Sometimes, when an actor isn’t given much in the way of dialogue or plot to work with, they have to resort to other tools: a coy look, a reaction face, body language. If those actors are X-Men, like the ones in Dark Phoenix, they have another weapon at their disposal—hand gestures.

Yes, hand gestures. The perfect execution of superpowers is a thing of beauty, and while the story of Dark Phoenix is so thin/predictable it’s almost laughable, the cast makes it work by executing all of those mutant powers with a flourish reminiscent of the legends of the silent-film era.

This impressive hand work is most apparent in the Dark Phoenix herself. As Jean Grey, Sophie Turner is a woman on a journey of self-discovery, learning the strength of her powers, but mostly learning the proper motions with which to use them. Behold the upturned palm and curled digit as she ascends goddess-like above her adversaries! Marvel at the outstretched arms and claw-like grip she employs to control the telekinetic energy coursing through her veins! This isn’t a woman finding her superpower, it is a hero discharging her energy with the precision of Beyoncé dancing.

Jean doesn’t start out precise, though. Her story, as it has been for decades, is one of a mutant struggling to channel her abilities and not hurt anyone in the process. In this, she has help. Early in Dark Phoenix she visits the true manus master: Magneto. Michael Fassbender has been doing this gig for years as both the metal-contorting Erik Lahnsherr and in Ridley Scott’s Alien prequels, where his artificially intelligent character David had to be so robotic he could only emote his true rage through the occasional facial tick. Naturally, when this veteran meets Jean Grey it is a thing to behold. Without giving away too much, they face off in an epic showdown, both using their powers to try to control a helicopter (it makes sense in the movie, promise) and, reader, I wept. Magneto, neck taut, expertly splays his fingers and manipulates the chopper with two rigid, reaching hands. Jean, watching and learning, does the same with a few magician-like arm waves. Also, note the elegance of the palm rotation. It is the moment the audience knows she has arrived.

Turner and Fassbender aren’t the only ones doing their best digital work. As Charles Xavier, James McAvoy has perfected the hooked-fingers-to-the-temple trick when using his mind-reading powers. Nicholas Hoult’s pawing as Beast? Breathtaking. Tye Sheridan is really coming into his own when it comes to pushing the button on his eyewear as Cyclops. Alexandra Shipp is fully mastering the lightning mitts of Storm. Finally, we won’t give away the details here, but Jessica Chastain adds some truly graceful work as well. (Jennifer Lawrence’s Thank God I’m Done with This Franchise face does all her work for her, but she’s still flawless.)

But here’s the real question: Are they better than other heroes before them? Can anyone match the precision of Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange? Or Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch? What about the glowing palms of Iron Man or Deadpool when he’s working his baby hand? Can anyone beat Spidey when he’s web-slinging, or Wolverine when he goes all snikt-snikt? Will any move be as iconic as Superman’s single-fist flyaway? That’s hard to say, and “defeat” is a strong —these people aren’t professional mimes—but they hold their own against the greats of the genre. Also, being a mutant means you do the thing with a little je ne sais quoi that other, more rigid heroes wouldn’t use, and that’s what should be applauded here.

It would be impossible for a movie with this roster of talent to be truly awful, but look, Dark Phoenix isn’t a good movie. If it weren’t for those little bits of flaunting and flourishing, it wouldn’t be very fun at all. The lines and scenes the X-Men are given here are clichés at best, but when it comes to how they’re delivered, the cast deserves a hand.

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