Relatively Speaking

Rating: 7/10 (22 June 2007)

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer is not a good movie. It is, however, a good comic book movie. When you compare this film to many of Marvel's other recent cinematic outings, it can be appreciated much more.
What makes Fantastic Four a success is that it avoids the pitfalls of other comic book films. It doesn't take itself too seriously (see "Hulk"), nor does it lose track of the significance of its source material (see "Spider-Man 3"). The movie is schlocky but not offensive; it is artificial without feeling completely manufactured. Despite the rampant and obvious product placement, the filmmakers avoid attaching the unnecessary social or political commentary that often weights down comic book films. The focus here is on the team's powers which give way to some decent and entertaining action sequences. The acting is mostly unremarkable, though Michael Chiklis once again steals the show as Ben Grimm.
Fantastic Four is nothing remarkable, but if you enjoy tacky summer movie fare, it doesn't come much better than this.