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Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer User Review

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Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer reviews

Rating
2/5
Author
hume_kenneth   [ Profile | Reviews ]
Best thing
Action sequences
Worst Thing
Acting
Review

FANTASTIC: ANYTHING BUT!!

FANTASTIC FOUR:

RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER

(PG, general release)

**

Life is good as a super hero with Reed Richards (Ioan Gruffudd) & Sue Storm (Jessica Alba) are about to get married…again and it promises to be New York’s social event of the year. Ben Grimm (Michael Chiklis) is solid as a rock in his relationship with the blind & beautiful Alicia (Kerry Washington) while things are not so hot on the relationship front for the “Flaming Torch” Chris Evans.

But being superheroes and all, you just know that the day couldn’t pass by without an evil villain threatening to destroy mankind as we know it! That villain comes in the form of the mysterious & powerful “Silver Surfer” Norrin Radd: a metallic based intergalactic traveler who’s left a trail of wasted planets in his wake and is causing all manner of meteorological mayhem over the world with snowstorms; blackouts etc.

However after a strike on New York disrupts the wedding, the Four are forced to act and eventually discover that Norrin is doing the bidding of planet eating “Galactus”. As if this wasn’t bad enough, they also have to contend with gruff U.S. Army General Hager (Andre Braugher) & a nasty nemesis they thought they had confined to his frosty homeland two years ago: Victor Von Doom (Julian McMahon) whose intentions we know aren’t good! Cue all sorts of devastation; explosions and apocalyptic adventures treated in a bright & breezy manner as the Fantastic Four set out to save the world from complete destruction.

I’m sad to say that while they’re superpowers are indeed Fantastic, they’re acting is far from. Mr. Gruffudd (Amazing Grace & King Arthur) is still a little lifeless as the lovably geeky scientist “Mr. Fantastic” Reed Richards; Alba (Sin City & Into the Blue) is as always extremely pretty but just like the film is also pretty vacant & plastic as “Invisible Girl” Sue Storm; Evans (Sunshine & Cellular) is anything but hot as the reckless; brash Johnny Storm; Chiklis (star of hit T.V series: The Shield) tries to provide the comic relief as “The Thing” Ben Grimm whilst McMahon (Nip/Tuck & Premonition) just doesn’t do much as the supposedly villainous; vindictive Von Doom. Alas the “Silver Surfer” voiced by Laurence Fishburne and portrayed by Doug Jones is the only character with any semblance of depth!

Whenever you get a film with any superlatives in the title, you start hoping maybe that there’s something special about it, dare I say it even Fantastic!! But folks, this isn’t any tin of Ronseal quick dry wood stain as it simply does not do exactly what it says on the tin. It’s a mildly entertaining; popcorn eating fare with some funny moments and expensive special effects combined with lazy dialogue; poor character development & cheesy special effects. Guys, this is anything but a fantastic film but if what you’re looking for is a light; undemanding 90 minutes of movie going adventure, then this is for you!

Written by Ken Hume

Date reviewed
10/07/2007

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