Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer

Starring: Ioan Gruffud, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, Julian McMahon, and the voice of Laurence Fishburne

Written by: Mark Frost and Don Payne (based on Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s comic book)

Directed by: Tim Story

I have to admit I was underwhelmed by the first Fantastic Four film. It wasn’t horrible, it just didn’t grab me like many other superhero films did. So I came into this movie, not expecting much. I honestly think that’s the best way to go into most movies these days. When the credits rolled afterwards I didn’t hate it. I just didn’t love it.

Again this isn’t the be all and end all of comic book flicks, but it is competently done. The effects are decent, the storyline is pretty consistent, and the action is cool. What I liked most about this flick is it seemed the actors felt more comfortable in their roles this time around. The first film seemed like a warm up and now they were ready to don the spandex (or in Michael Chiklis’ case rock). With the comfort, came the sense that they had fun on this set, and fun in this story. It was a refreshing take on comic book movies which usually takes themselves very seriously.

I wish the same could be said for Julian McMahon as Dr. Doom. I am a fan of McMahon’s work generally, but I just don’t get him as Doom. His Doom is too weak, too predictable. The Doom I read as a child would make everyone fall to their knees in shock and awe. This Doom makes me want to laugh.

Unfortunately, the storyline is another flaw. While it is an important story in the Fantastic Four mythos, it needs a lot of fluff to make a feature length film. At 87 minutes, it is almost too long. The wedding sequences and familial difficulties make it seem even longer. What makes it work even less, is that the soul searching and problems seem to just disappear at the end. The whole movie has Jessica Alba wanting to leave her FF life behind with Reed and start a family. She whines and complains and then…

We can’t leave this behind! We are responsible to these people! Where did the 180 come from? A near death experience? Wouldn’t that make you want to get further away?

The most impressive part of the film, lies with the Silver Surfer. I was afraid that Laurence Fishburne’s voice was going to be too iconic and I would find it distracting. It wasn’t and I wasn’t. Everything about the Silver Surfer was well done, except that we didn’t get to explore enough with him. I almost wished this movie was from the Surfer’s viewpoint and that the FF were the supporting roles.

I would definitely watch a spin-off flick here as it definitely is warranted.

My main problem is a nitpick I guess, but I hated how they did Galactus. Galactus is not a storm cloud. I don’t know how they could have made the purple/blue get up intimidating, but I think they chose the easy way out here unfortunately.

Overall though, I thought it was kind of a fun ride at times, but fairly middling in terms of any new ideas or statements.

C