with its GP appeal, expect it to deliver good, clean fun and passable entertainment

Rating: 7/10 (11 June 2007)

This was better than the first of the series, but still campy. While the title highlights the Silver Surfer, the plot in fact still revolves around the two-dimensional issues of the Fantastic Four.
As Dr. Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic, played by Ioan Gruffudd) and Susan Storm (The Invisible Woman, played by Jessica Alba) try to get married in the midst of the hoopla as superhero celebs, the team discovers that they aren't the only super-powered beings in the universe when they come up against the mysterious Silver Surfer and the Earth-threatening Galactus.
Chris Evans as Johnny Storm/Torch is the only one who lights up the screen with his sizzling screen presence (pardon the pun), and Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm/Thing is his reliable foil.
Julian McMahon (of Nip/Tuck and Charmed fame) reprises his role as the evil Victor Von Doom; it's a pity he did not get more screen time.
I have not read the comicbooks, but F4 was different in that unlike other superhero stories, the foursome are open celebrities and lead no secret lives. Yet, they unrealistically squabble about their issues as if they are not used to being on call to save the world at a moment's notice (hello, that's what superheroes do!). Also unlike other such stories, the military/police are not grateful for the Fantastic Four's help and do not seem to collaborate with them, treating the superheroes as brats they have to deal with.
Nonetheless, with its general patronage appeal, expect the movie to deliver good, clean fun and passable entertainment.