“Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer” not for grown ups

I was one of the early defenders of the original film. Whereas most critics disliked the original “Fantastic Four” for its simplistic story, poorly portrayed villain, and underwhelming action - I stood against the horde and proclaimed this film humorous family fun with a cast that had pleasant camaraderie. This sequel was supposed to be bigger and better, while also introducing a new character important to comic lore. Based on what I saw on the screen in “FF 2: Rise of the Silver Surfer” I can no longer lend this series my full support. All the old criticisms of the first film ring true here, as the sequel was hampered by one dimensional storytelling, unoriginal action sequences, and a new villain who never truly materializes.

Since we last saw Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, the Thing, and the Human Torch, the world media can not get enough of them. This superhero team who wears no masks, makes themselves accessible to the masses by signing autographs and making public appearances. Sue Storm (Jessica Alba; “Sin City”) wishes her and Reed (Ioan Gruffudd; “King Arthur”) could just disappear, so they could get married in peace. However, a strange anomaly has appeared in the skies over Earth and where ever it goes strange weather patterns follow. The military requests Reed to help them investigate, much to Sue’s dismay. They soon learn it is a being from space, called the Silver Surfer, and his job is to prepare this planet for the coming of a creature heralded as the ‘devourer of worlds’. Can the Fantastic Four stop the Surfer and save the planet?

The cast has great chemistry, there is no denying that. They all encapsulate their characters virtues and vices well, and interact with each other seamlessly. However, their challenges and villains always seem so mediocre compared to what the team is capable of. None of the characters but Johnny Storm (Chris Evans; “Cellular”) - aka The Torch - directly confronts the Surfer. The side effects from this interaction, are drawn upon for some comic relief but the film relies on this way too much, explaining everything with it, from the return of Dr. Doom to the inability of The Torch to be a reliable member of the team. The Thing (Michael Chiklis; TV’s “The Shield”) does not necessarily grow as a character in this film, as much as forget all the angst he felt in the prior film from being changed into a monster. The relationship between him and his girlfriend could have been explored to get deeper into how he has had to adapt to this transformation - but this opportunity was missed.

Most gratingly, Dr. Doom (Julian McMahon; “Premonition”) returns not as the masked menace, mastermind, and dictator of his own small country - which he is supposed to be from the comics - but instead reverts back to the same role he played in the first film. Its almost as if the director doesn’t understand that this villain is one of Marvel’s best - a possible influence for Lucas’s Darth Vader - instead wasting him on an easily transparent deception.

While the special effects are impressive, especially what has been done with the Silver Surfer, not enough tension is built up throughout the movie, for what is supposed to be a potentially world ending threat. Only occasionally does real suspense and the true essence of the characters shine through. Seen exclusively as a kids film “Fantastic Four 2" works as a flashy, fast-moving piece of cotton candy, but it does not work as grown up entertainment on more than a surface level.

Rated PG for sequences of action violence, some mild language and innuendo