After a run of complicated sequels and crossovers, Marvel has made a film that anyone can watch. The new Fantastic Four movie does not require you to have seen any other film in the series.

This might be the course correction the Marvel universe needed. Recent films like The Marvels and Captain America: Brave New World have struggled to connect with a wide audience. By telling a simple, standalone story, Fantastic Four feels like a breath of fresh air.

A Different Look and Feel

The film avoids the mistakes of the last two attempts to bring these characters to the screen. It is set in a retro-futuristic world, much like the classic cartoon The Jetsons. This honours the 1960s origins of the comic book characters and gives the movie a unique style.

While there are small nods for long-time fans, the focus is on no-strings-attached fun.

A Focus on Family

The cast is excellent. It includes Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn from Stranger Things, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach from The Bear. Their chemistry works because the film treats them as a family first and superheroes second.

In fact, the story rarely uses their silly superhero names. They are introduced as a scientist, his wife, his best friend, and his brother-in-law. Their powers are important, but so are their brains and their relationships.

This simple approach is a welcome break. With the next big Spider-Man film more than a year away, audiences have time to enjoy a single, well-told story. It's a good reminder of what made these movies work in the first place.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is in cinemas on Friday.