Film Reviews

Fantastic Four 2: Rise of the Silver Surfer

• Rating:
• Director: Tim Story.
• Starring: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis.
• Details: US / 92mins (PG).

After dealing with Dr. Doom (Julian McMahon) in the first instalment, Rise Of The Silver Surfer sees the Fantastic Four settle down to an ordinary life. Sue/The Invisible Woman (Alba) and Reed/Mr. Fantastic (Gruffudd) are planning to get married while Ben/Thing (Chiklis) is enjoying time with Alicia (Kerry Washington). However, an otherworldly being nicknamed 'The Silver Surfer' (voiced by Laurence Fishburne) arrives on Earth, intent on paving the way for the planet-destroying Galactacus - and our four heroes are forced into an uneasy alliance with the returning Victor Von Doom to defeat it. Rise Of the Silver Surfer is pitched squarely at young boys and with its frequent use of flash CGI, Jessica Alba, hip visuals, Jessica Alba, funny gags and Jessica Alba, it nails its market dead on. However, for older fans of the comic book, there's not a lot here that will raise an eyebrow as the movie sticks tight to its PG rating. Action scenes are trimmed back, the simplistic plot might be a little light for the more serious enthusiast, and Fishburne is unable to impose any personality on the Surfer. The sequel is a more polished affair that its predecessor, as no set up is required - but the plot holes are too wide to ignore and predictability hastens boredom. Even Stan Lee's cameo is somewhat inevitable.

Review by Gavin Burke