It's Not Flawless, but is a Triumph Over the Original

Rating: 8/10 (1 July 2007)

In a summer in which each sequel has proved to be disappointing and less stunning than its predecessors, Silver Surfer is like a ray of hope. Spiderman may have drawn the crowd, but its intense marketing left fans and others viewers expecting more. Surfer on the other hand has been an underdog story. With little yet sufficient marketing campaigns, FF2 may truly be the sleeper hit of the summer.
At the beginning of the film we find luckless Sue and Reed trying to tie the knot when a mysterious force ruins their wedding day. Driven by this, the four heroes begin their intensive research and start attempting to catch the enigmatic Silver Surfer. All seems to be going well, until an old friend returns from Latevria.
Performances in FF were weak, and I cannot say that they have improved so much. Nevertheless, this time they somehow become more than simply awesome humans for children. Ioan Gruffudd is back as the Silver Surfer, and I am in favor of the writers' decision to bring him out like a proper nerd, which he is the comics. Jessica Alba falls into that category of actresses which have looks, but little talent, even though this kind of blandness is evident in Sue too. Chris Evans is definitely one of the most up and coming stars of Hollywood, and whilst judging him on his acting isn't that easy, he's got that charisma and charm which easily makes him an audience favorite. In the last film, Michael Chiklis, as the Thing, had a far more interesting role, as he was insecure and ashamed of how he was, and whilst it's certainly a nice change to have a superhero film without these internal conflicts, his character is ignored.
In terms of action sequences, the film delivers, and whilst it certainly is becoming boring to see Sue Storm producing force fields, the Silver Surfer is extremely welcome, as he pumps up the action. From the thrilling city chase to the evasion of rockets during his capture, every moment in which he's on the screen, the film sees a colossal improvement. Dr. Doom has lost his charm and his final showdown is rather disappointing. And even though Galactus isn't as awe inspiring as in the comics, the scale is huge and it gives rise to much more exciting sequences.
The special effects have improved and whilst the Silver Surfer is the main highlight, Galactus is also a feast for the eyes. However, my favorite special effects sequence has to the creation of the crater in the river Thames. The scene was climatic and you could for once feel the tension and fear of the citizens.
A disappointment in the film has to be the lack of emotion. When Sue and Reed plan to abandon the group you'd expect some more drama, but everything is shallow and the film goes on without giving any importance to these scenes which could be emotional heavyweights.
Verdict
Fantastic Four 2 has its flaws, but unless you are one of those people who start freaking out as soon as they see something that is different from the comic, then you'll find this film to be a relaxing and fun treat, coupled with a priceless 93 minute running time.