4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)

Director: Tim Story

Cast: Ioan Gruffudd as Mr. Fantastic / Reed Richards, Jessica Alba as Invisible Woman / Susan Storm, Chris Evans as Human Torch / Johnny Storm, Michael Chiklis as The Thing / Ben Grimm, Julian McMahon as Dr. Doom / Victor Von Doom, Kerry Washington as Alicia Masters, Andre Braugher as General Hager, Laurence Fishburne as The Silver Surfer (voice), Doug Jones as The Silver Surfer, Beau Garrett as Captain Raye, Brian Posehn as Wedding Minister, Zach Grenier as Mr. Sherman / Rafke, Dawn Chubai as Anchorwoman, Chris Gailus as Anchorman, Kevin McNulty as Baxter Building Doorman

Tim Story stays true to the roots of the 2005 film, keeping this sequel
fun and clean, while developing a new story with a couple new
characters and making our favorite 4 heroes grow even more. Fantastic
Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer is better than its predecessor, and one
of the better sequels of recent memory.

Things appear to be going great for the Fantastic Four. Reed (Ioan
Gruffudd) and Susan (Jessica Alba) are in love and ready to be married,
Johnny (Chris Evans) is still on fire with the ladies, and Ben (Michael
Chiklis) has finally found happiness with Alicia Masters (Kerry
Washington). However, their happiness will be tested when strange
occurrences around the globe point to one culprit: a mysterious being
known only as The Silver Surfer (Doug Jones and Laurence Fishburne).

One of the biggest improvements 'Rise' has over the first film is the
fact that the Fantastic work more as a team in this film. Yes, in the
first movie they fought together, but it seemed as if they each were
fighting different battles within one big one. Here, they take a
different route and take on even the smaller events together. Also, the
writing is much better, making Reed aka Mr. Fantastic out to be the
leader of the Four, much unlike the first movie, which bothered me.
Ioan Gruffudd really seems like a leader in this movie, which was a
definite strength. Chris Evans also flexes some acting muscle, as The
Human Torch is also well written this time around, giving him a wake up
call and turning him into a more believable human character this time
around. Alba and Chiklis are both good as The Invisible Woman and The
Thing respectively. Doug Jones and Laurence Fishburne portray the
Surfer brilliantly as body and voice respectively. Fishburne has this
incredible ability to say the deadliest of lines (All that you know is
at an end) with unbelievable ease and charismatic calm. He is the
perfect choice as the voice of one of the most powerful comic book
characters. I liked how they wrote the Surfer as well. He does become
vulnerable in the film, but at the same time, you'll have no doubt that
he is the most powerful character by the time the ending rolls around.
Doug Jones always impresses me with how he captures and creates a
character while doing so little, and after successful turns in Pan's
Labyrinth and Hellboy, Jones gives the Surfer life just as he did Abe
Sapien in Hellboy. Kerry Washington and Julian McMahon are also good
reprising their roles as Alicia Masters and Dr. Doom, McMahon
especially. He's even better as the evil and manipulative Dr. Doom this
time around.

Tim Story really did a good job with the atmosphere of 'Rise'. He
really explores every corner of the planet, with action scenes in
Germany, New York, China, outer space, and the heroes' kitchen. All the
action scenes are well done and the special effects are used smoothly
and effectively, even though it looks as though most of the increased
budget was spent on The Silver Surfer and Galactus, who look amazing.
They forgot to make Mr. Fantastic look as realistic as possible,
because most of the time you can see the visual effects. All in all,
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (PG) is a fun movie
experience that anyone over age 11 or 12 should enjoy. There is some
mild sexual innuendo, but it's not too bad.

--spy 8/10