Because the fantastic four convince (finally) American criticism. And relaunch Marvel

After years of cinefumetti Marvel Welcomed with growing indifference – when not with open annoyance – American criticism, spiritual and industrial homeland of the genre, seems to have found the lost enthusiasm. And he did it for a film that, on paper, was not exactly among the most awaited: The fantastic four – the beginningsdirected by Matt Shakman and played by Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrachhas conquered surprisingly enthusiastic reviews from historically severe newspapers such as Variety, The Guardian, Entertainment Weekly and even the Los Angeles Times. A first time, it would be said, for the most mistreated quartet of the Marvel team.

Because yes, the story of the fantastic four in the cinema is one of the most troubled of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After the two warm films of the 2000s and the disastrous reboot of 2015, the most “family” superhero group of comics seemed to be destined for oblivion. But First Stepsas the title suggests, really manages to seem a new beginning. Not only for the saga, but – potentially – for the entire MCU.

The American press underlines it with emphasis: “It is the best film about the fantastic four ever made», he writes Variety. The Los Angeles Times speaks of an “adult and retro-spurist glow-up”, while Entertainment Weekly assigns a dignified vote B to a film that defines as “bold, visually elegant and surprisingly intimate”. The Guardian It praises it for the “playful and full of charm” tone, with an aesthetic that visibly looks at the 1960s, between vintage sit-com and elegant science fiction.

But what is so different The fantastic four – the beginnings? First of all, he does not try to be everything. It does not chase the intergalactic macro-narration that made the latest redundant and fragmentary Marvel films. On the contrary, he chooses a compact setting and a coherent aesthetic. Avoid the film made for the use and consumption of fans, favors the story of the characters. And above all: he returns a clear identity to his protagonists, played by a well -guessed cast, capable of balanced charisma and Understate. Pascal and Kirby, above all, bring the group an alien elegance to the colored chaos of the Avengers.

Of course, there is no shortage of criticism: The first part is slow and female characters do not shine by three -dimensionality. But overall the film succeeds where many others have failed: to return to the superheroes a sense of discoverya fascinating narrative frame and a tone that does not smell of algorithm.

In short, we are far from the digital saturation of the Quantumia and gods Secret Invasion. The fantastic four – the beginnings It is a movie that is not afraid of looking small. Perhaps for this reason, it has become great.

If it is the beginning of a new golden phase or just a happy exception, the time will say. But in the meantime, the news is this: after years of in love, the American criticism He started believing in Marvel again. And it doesn’t do so for Iron Man or Spider-Man, but for four characters who seemed irreparably out of time. This too, after all, is the beauty of the cinefumetti: they never really die.