Meh.

Rating: 6/10 (15 June 2007)

Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer picks up where the previous outing finished. Finally getting married Sue Storm (Jessica Alba) and Mr. Fantastic's (Ioan Gruffudd) wedding is interrupted by the arrival of the herald of the super villain Galactus into New York. The Silver Surfer may be the challenge to the Four that finally defeats them. Add to this the return of Von Doom and you've got a really tense situation.
My biggest problem with the first film was the poor script and low rating (PG in the UK). The action is hamstrung by the inability at that rating to actually show anything. Here is a film with another poor script. A lot of the writers from the first were kept on and it shows, the same complaints I had with the first film are here again.
Another problem is Gruffudd. He has an awful rabbit-in-the-headlights look on his face all the time. As the leader of the group he needs to have testicles and be a strong force. Unfortunately he is the wimpiest member of the group and seems to be permanently gawping at the things going on around him.
Again Alba and Michael Chiklis (The Thing) are wasted. Alba showed great talent at times in the sadly cut short Dark Angel series. Her talent is currently being wasted by Hollywood, always seeming to want to slap her in either skin-tight rubber or in a bikini. Her make-up and hair in combination with the contacts make her look very alien and made me not want to connect with her. Chiklis should also be doing better. He's a great actor with an expressive face that's hidden behind a pile of prosthetics. Yes, he does get time without the make-up, but it isn't long enough. Chris Evens (Human Torch) is again just so-so.
The best thing in the film is the Surfer. Physically acted by Doug Jones and voiced by Laurence Fishburne he shines through the rest of the duffness. There are a few good action scenes, but as I've said, the low rating prevents there being anything really meaty in them. At least the movie's only just over an hour and a half long. The chase with The Human Torch and the Surfer through the city is impressive, as is the confrontation between Von Doom and the Four.
Don't bother seeing this at the cinema. Wait for the DVD and rent it. Hopefully that'll send a message that we don't want a third instalment that is probably unfortunately coming.