This 2007 fantasy action adventure, a sequel to the original Fantastic Four film of two years ago, is a distinct improvement. More punchy, better effects, good set-pieces and with plenty of childish japes, it feels considerably more assured.
After defeating metalhead Doctor Doom (Julian McMahon) in the first film, the superhero gang are preparing for the wedding of Invisible Woman/Sue Storm (Jessica Alba) and rubbery Mr Fantastic/Reed Richards (Ioan Gruffudd) when the Silver Surfer plummets to Earth, bringing with him the threat of total annihilation. Seemingly powerless against this extraterrestrial enemy and with Doctor Doom back on the warpath, the Four must fight to save the Earth from Galactus, the Surfer's employer and an evil entity bent on sucking all life from the planet.
While the first film filled in the back-story, here the foursome are pulling together as a team, although the bickering friendship between Michael Chiklis's The Thing/Ben Grimm and Chris Evans's fiery Human Torch/Johnny Storm still holds a lot more spark than the on-off love match between Sue Storm and Reed Richards. The Silver Surfer (voiced by Laurence Fishburne) is a special effects wonder, with Doug Jones following up his Hellboy role as Abe Sapien and firmly establishing himself as the go-to guy for elongated, other-worldly characters.
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer is a Film programme that first aired in 2007 and has been classified a PG certificate.
