Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (PG) *** (From Harrow Times)

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (PG) ***

3:31pm Thursday 14th June 2007

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Comic book fans are going to find this sequel pretty terrific.

I was a big fan of the first Fantastic Four movie and this one more than delivers on the promise of that initial film.

Fantastic Four was a no-frills, no-fuss, comic book movie that delivered all you could want in a popcorn flick. It didn't much illuminate the human condition, but what do you expect in an effects-heavy bonanza based on the self-styled 'world's favourite comic book'?

This time round director Tim Story plays up to the fans with the character everyone wants to see - The Silver Surfer, one of Marvel Comics' most iconic figures.

When he made his first appearance in the comic books at the height of the Vietnam War, the Silver Surfer was an angst-ridden Christ-like figure whose noble brow was always furrowed at the injustice he found around him.

This film drops a lot of the sentimental baggage and goes back to basics. The Surfer is the herald of Galactus, devourer of planets. Galactus literally sucks the lives out of planets reducing them to cinder husks.

The Surfer has identified Earth as a nice appetiser for his master so it falls to the Fantastic Four to stop him. To do this they have to join forces with their deadliest foe, Dr Doom.

The sharp-eyed will have noticed Doom all but immobile at the end of the first film but nothing is impossible in comic books and sequels.

The Fantastic Four have moved on a bit themselves. Reed Richards (Ioan Gruffudd) is about to marry the Invisible Woman (Jessica Alba), the Human Torch (Chris Evans) is pursuing celebrity and endorsements, and Ben Grimm (Michael Chiklis) has come to terms with life as The Thing. The effects are excellent but the film stands or falls by The Silver Surfer.

Luckily Doug Jones is a skilled physical actor while the choice of Laurence Fishburne as his voice is just perfect.

It may not live long in the mind but there are some terrific moments in this film - an aerial chase through Manhattan between The Human Torch and The Silver Surfer, for example - which leave you hoping for more.

Director: Tim Story
Running time: 92mins

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