Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer

(2007) dir. Tim Story
viewed: 02/08/08

Part two of my whimsical minor super hero film festival, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, slightly better reviewed sequel to Fantastic Four (2005) turned out to be actually a less satisfying entry in the series.  Will there be more?

For some reason, Rise of the Silver Surfer, a perplexing enough subname for a film, is played largely for laughs through the first hour or so.  It’s light-hearted enough, but silly, almost entirely so.  A little too much so, I thought.  It just seemed frivilous.

As for the Silver Surfer himself I never really got and his connection with Galactus, the world-eating giant (here merely a cloud or shadow), I never understood.  I mean, I was a kid and there was some striving for metaphysical science fiction, ultimate power, beyond that of even the superheroes.

As for this film, he’s Laurence Fishburne (by voice) and totally animated visually.  Again, the movie, like its predecessor doesn’t really lag anywhere.  Its glib, cheerful, nonsense, comedy steals any emotional impact intended in the finale.  Not that it matters.  It’s entertaining enough.  Not necessarily enough for another sequel.  We’ll just have to see.

Jessica Alba, what can one say?  She shines like gold in many scenes (really) and the blonde hair just seems so bizarre.  Why her?  Couldn’t they find a natural blonde?