Over the last 20 years, we’ve seen a few swings at bringing Marvel’s iconic Fantastic Four to the screen. It started when the rights were held by FOX, who launched a film in 2005. It received middling reviews, though it did earn a sequel. Then, in 2015, we got a new version. It had a strong cast, but it didn’t all come together.

It seems every 10 years we get a new swing at bringing the heroes to life. So, it’s fitting, in 2025, the Fantastic Four have returned. This time as part of a new phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But will it be the shot in the arm needed before the Avengers return?

The film is set on Earth 828, and we pick up four years after the space flight that changed the world forever. Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) had their cells impacted by radiation, leading to some amazing powers. In the time since, they’ve become Earth’s protectors.

As we begin, Sue discovers she’s pregnant. It’s an announcement that will change their lives, and it raises their celebrity profile. But before they can celebrate, The Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) arrives to herald their doom. Galactus (Ralph Ineson) is coming, and he’ll devour the world.

The Four head off to find Galactus and fight for Earth’s future. There, they find that he wants something, but it’s too steep a price. That leaves the Four to consider alternatives as they try to protect the Earth.

This new film is a radical departure from previous attempts to bring the story to life. It sets the action in the 1960s, but an alternate world that feels like something out of The Jetsons. It works beautifully to set a tone and provide some rich visuals that feel apart from previous films and anything else in the MCU.

The story is about a family, and family is the focus of the film. That works beautifully, too. These characters complement each other and world beautifully together. Director Matt Shakman delivers a story that explores this world and is crafted with humor, drama, and rich emotions. The action also works well, featuring some daring set pieces and a great climatic action sequence.

The casting is strong, too. Pascal works as Richards, and I enjoyed Quinn’s energy as Johnny Storm. Moss-Bachrach has some beautiful moments as Grimm, who is the glue for this group. But the real MVP is Kirby. She’s magnificent as Sue Storm and the highlight of the film.

I was skeptical about taking another swing at Fantastic Four, and the early trailers did little to quell those concerns. But this film is great. It’s an engaging ride with a crisp 115-minute run time. This is a great start to the new phase of the MCU and sets the stage for something really interesting with the next Avengers film.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is now playing in theaters nationwide.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.