RUTHERFORD ON FILM 'Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer'... Tongue in Cheek Dialogue, Dysfunctional Sparring Make It Better Than the First 'FF'
By Tony RutherfordHuntington News Network Critic
Watching superhero fantasy films can become routine. In their worlds flying, bullets bouncing off chests, and leaping from tall buildings come all in a day’s work. It’s with that ease of visual impact that “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer” determines almost nonchalantly that “it’s clobberin’ time.”Instead of a bruising and explosive instant crisis, “Surfer” allows a little breathing before all hell breaks loose on the globe!
Before discussing the special effects and world ending challenges, just a couple of other thoughts --- in keeping with the “private” versus “public” lives of heroes --- “FF” clandestinely permits a vibrant emotional and verbal clash between the hazards of celebrity and fame on one’s privacy, such as raising a normal family. Borrowing a little of the inner personal character clashing from the “X Men,” Reed (“Mr. Fantastic”) Richards (Ioan Gruffiudd) ,Sue “ Invisible Girl” Storm (Jessica Alba) , Johnny (Human Torch) Storm (Chris Evans) and The Thing (Michael Chiklis) struggle with pre-wedding jitters, communication breakdowns, and a brilliant super power switcharoo.
Unlike the dark, deadly serious nature of the recent super hero sequels i.e. “Spiderman III,” “Superman Returns,” “FF: Rise of the Silver Surfer” maintains an adventurous, laid back --- Gee, can’t we get married before we save the world attitude. While the impending perils escalate, the heroes maintain a serious levity which sprinkle smiles and one-liners interspersed with a ‘ho hum’ that’s no problem confidence.
Opening with a series of mysterious scientific anomalies in which snow falls in Egypt, electronics jam and waters freeze, the military calls on their little bit nerdy, get us out of a jam genius, Reed Richards who’s preoccupied with 24/7 paparazzi readying for his wedding to Ms. Storm, now more worried about raising a family than force fields.
Special effect wizards allow us to appreciate the silvery orb (Doug Jones) and his sky and space skating skills. Thoughtfully, the screenplay leaves ambiguity in the villain’s persona so despite geographic locales remade, the dude on the board may not be all bad. Dr. Doom (Julian McMahon) does get in a few gloats, but the sequel belongs to the Surfer, whose on-board flying destruction challenges animators, just as much as the dark, smoggy planet snuffing Galactus.
While Tim Story returns as director, Mark Frost teams with Don (“My Super Ex-Girlfriend,” “The Simpsons” TV series) Payne on the screenplay, which explains the delicately honed, snidely tongue-in-cheer dialogue which (without turning campy) particularly propels the sequel into rare territory --- It’s better than the first one. Give credit for that to regularly jolting and impressing audiences but not with an open to close doom and gloom aura overriding even the temperamental Torch’s unpredictable ‘flame on’ and ‘flame outs.’
Incidentally, for better or worse, you see less of Chris Evans, now a People Magazine bachelor of the year, as his character has matured from adolescent emotional tantrums to young adult mopping.
*** out of ****