Fantastic 4: Rise Of The Silver Surfer Review by Bobby LePire. Edited by Courtney McAllister.

 

Two years after the successful, but mixed, reception of “Fantastic 4”(2005), a sequel was released. While critics liked it slightly more than its predecessor (27% vs. 37% on Rotten Tomatoes), fans seemed to hate this entry more. For me, this is the best “Fantastic 4” movie to date, and let me tell you why.

Starting roughly a year after the first movie, the plot feels more epic and adventurous:

The pending nuptials of Reed Richards (Ioan Gruffudd) and Sue Storm (Jessica Alba) has the media going gaga. At the same time, weird anomalies have been messing with things around the world- lakes are freezing, unexplained craters disrupting gravity, and a strange silver streak is seen near all of these things. The odd energy being given off by the Silver Surfer makes a transfer of powers possible amongst our heroes. The government asks for the Fantastic Four’s help in figuring out what is going on. However, General Hager (Andre Braugher) doesn’t trust Reed, and brings back an old foe to help them. Can the first family of Marvel and Dr. Doom put aside their differences and work together to stop the Silver Surfer (Doug Jones/ Laurence Fishburne) and the new threat he’s heralding?

 

Tim Story is back in the director’s chair, but this time he has a few new tricks up his sleeves. Yes, it is still journeyman, but he opens the canvas more, and shows a few stylistic flourishes not seen in the last one. This is most noticeable in the Human Torch/ Silver Surfer chase, during which the camera seems to be unrestrained by gravity, and we get some pretty interesting shots as a result.

 

When Reed stretches, his skin still looks weightless, but aside from that, the effects here are pretty good, even now. At his bachelor party, there’s a very funny bit with him dancing, that looks mostly good. As goofy as it looks, when Johnny Storm is given all the powers near the end, the abilities mingle well together, and never look like they are fighting for dominance. Not an easy feat to pull off, but the crew at Spectral Motion did, and it works well. The force fields Sue creates look more realistic, and an instance of her smushing Reed on all sides in one is pretty cool. Of course, the best effect in the movie is the freaking Silver Surfer! But, he’s going to get his own section, so more on him and his awesomeness in a bit.

 

Writer Mark Frost returns, but his co-writer this time around isn’t Michael France, it’s Don Payne. And I’d say the dialogue, plot, and pacing are all better. There’s less small talk/ banter, and more substantive conversations/ characterizations, which gives the film more dramatic weight. The scene where Reed and Sue discuss giving up the superhero life for good (after another failed wedding- Silver Surfer crashed it) provides nice depth to their actions throughout, and the fact that they don’t tell the other two, becomes an actual arc in the story, not just a pointless part to pad the running time.

 

The movie is also far bigger and more epic, spanning the globe this time around. This gives the movie a true sense of adventure, and with the whole world at stake, the movie is an overall stronger superhero story than the 2005 one. With all that good though, come one flaw. I think bringing Doom back was a bit of a cheap move. If this were the third entry, bringing back the bad guy from the first (and this group’s main nemesis) could have been cool. But, with all the stuff going on here- the family drama (will Reed and Sue finally get married? WIll they leave the group?), the new stuff (Silver Surfer, his backstory) and everything with the government, I don’t feel it was necessary. Yes, Doom provides the big action finale, but with a small amount of rewriting, it wouldn’t need to be him. Having Doom in the story brings up a major plothole- why in the hell would the government trust him? We aren’t given any good answer there, and it is frustrating.

 

Ioan Gruffudd once again proves he was the perfect choice to play Reed. His stern, paternal demeanor is more on display here, but he still gets to have fun. He’s solid as a scientist and an action hero, and you believe he is the smartest person in the room. Jessica Alba is much improved from the last movie. She and Gruffudd’s chemistry is better, and she sounds more natural delivering the scientific based lines. However, it is her interactions with Doug Jones that really allows this movie to soar. Had they been out of sync at all, this whole movie would have collapsed entirely. But her sympathetic bond for the Surfer is on full display, and leads to a heart wrenching gut punch (in a good way).

 

Chris Evans is a little more serious this time around, but still pretty funny. His character arc is excellent, and the glue that holds the team together. Chiklis will forever and always be the best possible actor for the Thing (I don’t care about your opinions on these movies- agree or disagree with me all you like- he is damned perfect for the role). Julian McMahon is still creepy as Doom, despite his unnecessary inclusion. His re-introductory scene is perfectly played, and an enjoyably tense moment. Braugher is authoritative and no-nonsense, which is how I’d expect a disgruntled general to act.

 

Now, onto the main attraction! Oh dear lord, I love everything about the Silver Surfer in this movie! When I was younger, the Fantastic Four were one of my favorite superhero teams; hell, they still are. From a fan’s standpoint, the filmmakers adapt his story very well, with just a few tweaks and changes to be consistent with the movie universe they already created. He’s still working for Galactus to save his homeworld and his significant other, and it isn’t until Earth, and his meeting of Sue Storm reignites his humanity, that he decides to fight back.

 

The effects used for him are astounding. The way his body shimmers with the sort of living energy engulfing him, while he is on the board, is kickass cool, and skill looks good. The dull gray bodypaint for the times he’s off the board is detailed, but not so heavy as to restrict facial movements. Doug Jones’s body movements are excellent, and with just a look or full body turn, you get a full sense of the guilt he feels about his involvement with Galactus. Laurence Fishburne voices the character, and delivers all the gravitas his booming voice can offer. Never too serious or dull, always hitting just the right notes of reserved calm, but with simmering passion underneath, it is amazing. Everything about this interpretation of the character works wonderfully!

 

Yeah, this is a short review, but I really like this movie. The cast is excellent, the action’s swift and exciting, the story is cool, and the Silver Surfer is badass and his story makes for an enthralling plot. This is an actually fantastic “Fantastic 4” movie.