4 – Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)

Directed By: Tim Story
Cast: Ioan Grufford, Chris Evans, Jessica Alba, Michael Chiklis, Julian McMahon, Kerry Washington, Doug Jones, Laurence Fishburne (voice of Silver Surfer)

When The Fantastic Four hit our screens it came as such a disappointment that the prospect of a sequel did not nothing but stir up ill feeling. Historically second instalments are worse, and if the original, which in this case proved to be one of the most disappointing comic book adaptations of all time, is a let down then holding out hope is a misguided dream. Not only that but unlike Ghost Rider, Daredevil and other Marvel adaptations, which have small cult followings, Fantastic Four belongs to stand tall next to Spider-Man and Hulk. And so in a clearly desperate attempt to reboot the franchise and ensure some level of box office success, the sequel has chosen to put all its eggs in one, shiny, glimmering and mouth watering idea; The Silver Surfer. A staple of the Marvel comics, and perhaps the coolest looking superhero ever.

So after the childish, bright and breezy original was the Surfer’s arrival going to instigate a darker take on the Fantastic Four. The answer is No! This film is just a light, breezy and corny as the previous instalment, only this time the action is much better with some genuinely amazing sequences including a wonderful London based scene involving the London Eye.
The Surfer is just the right amount of cool mixed with omnipotent evil.

The Fantastic Four themselves have also developed. Mr Fantastic and his fellow cohorts are now quite comfortable with their powers and have developed to the Fantastic superheroes fans came to love. Unfortunately there is very little actual significant use of this, in fact the Four are somewhat sidelined by their new shiny enemy/friend. Having said that, the creators have obviously paid close attention to the redeeming features. Johnny Storm (Evans) steals most of his scenes and provides the genuinely funny gags, Dr Reed (Grufford) is finally beginning to feel like a leader. The Thing, is at his clubberin’ best and Sue Storm has enough scenes with the Surfer to begin to give her character shape. Along with this, Sue and Reed’s love story feels more based in reality and genuine, despite the compulsory corny lines we expected.
Even Dr. Doom himself is back. Only instead of being the evil character we’d expect him to become, all pent up rage and vengeance toward the Four. Instead he seems pantomimish. Also for someone who is apparently a genius he seems more obsessed with attaining The Surfers power than actually realising that it’s the power which could risk the end of the world.

Which conveniently leads me onto possibly the most commendable aspect of Rise of the Silver Surfer? The Fantastic Four finally get to deal with an enemy which can threaten the world rather than downtown New York. Unlike Daredevil or Spider-Man who generally deal with a city sized threat, the Fantastic Four are equipped to prevent global destruction. And with this film they get to face that kind of challenge making the story more riveting and engaging.

There are clearly and irrefutably problems with the script, the story, the absence of context for Galactus, the planet destroying evil that Surfer works for. Also The Silver Surfer for all his cool shimmering beauty and deep husky (Laurence Fishburne) voice is given a fairly underdeveloped back story and motive for his actions. Particularly in his allegiance with the Fantastic Four. It reeks of plot contrivance and an ill thought out concept. But for all the big blockbuster let downs this year; Spider-Man 3, Pirates 3, Ocean’s Thirteen, Shrek The Third; 4 Rise of the Silver Surfer is a film which doesn’t disappoint. That’s not to say its better than any of the films above. But you certainly never expected the film to as good as it is, which is more than you can say for any of Silver Surfer’s main summer rivals, at least so far anyway.

A franchise moving in the right direction with a far superior sequel to the languid and child friendly original. If the franchise can keep on improving at this rate, Fantastic Four may well have the longest legs of any comic book franchise. But I doubt it.