Dir. Tom Story, US, 2007, 92 mins
Cast: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, Julian McMahon, and the voice of Laurence Fishburne
Review by Jean Lynch
When fate handed four scientists a double-edged sword of assorted superpowers following a run-in with cosmic radiation (or something along those lines), the resulting film of the marvel superheroes was deemed far less fantastic than it should have been. However, science tells us that the nature of time is both strange and wonderful and thus, with its passing and not mentioning repeat screenings on Sky, the eponymous Fantastic Four have been officially upgraded to the rank of ‘fair to middling’. So, with more good will than they might have expected, can the team raise their ratings higher still with their second instalment, Rise of the Silver Surfer?
Perhaps surprisingly, particularly given the surefire warning sign of the shifting release date, the answer is a resounding “yes”.
Reed Richards, a.k.a Mr Fantastic (Gruffudd) and Sue Storm, a.k.a. The Invisible Woman (Alba) are busily planning their nuptials in what the media has dubbed ‘The Wedding of the Century’. Unfortunately, this coincides with a series of strange and destructive anomalies taking place across the world, resulting in Reed being requested to apply his scientific mind to the mayhem. Events culminate on the Big Day itself when, atop a skyscraper with paps in helicopters and the world’s media focussing on them, the wedding ceremony is ruined by the arrival of the Silver Surfer, a vertiginous, destructive force, riding his cosmic-powered board. With their day quite literally in tatters, and The World still to be saved, personal disappointments are put on hold as the Fantastic Four take to the skies again.
The filmmakers themselves love the fact that this film has a much broader scope than thefirstl, taking it all across the four corners of the globe and beyond. However, what really makes Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer a cut above is the ordinariness of and chemistry between the four themselves. These are very real, light-hearted superheroes, with none of the angst of Batman or Spiderman or the Incredible Hulk, and their personas and powers are not hidden but constant, regardless of whether they are in a suit-and-tie or spandex, with fans knowing them by both their real names and their superhero name, therefore reducing the interplay between the concious and the subconscious, which donning a superhero outfit or disguise usually represents. Instead, they are four people who have been thrust into a celebrity circus, famous without asking, and who have to learn to deal with this new-found fame. Gruffudd isn’t the first person you’d expect to play a superhero, but he does make a great geeky scientist, and his mischievous use of his superpowers whilst being just plain old Reed Richards is amusing to watch, and Gruffudd clearly enjoys the role. They are the the boy next door, getting to have some fun.
Alba’s Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, however, is one of the film’s weaknesses. As the token female of the team she conforms more to the stereotype of the girly girl rather than a powerful, independent role-model for young women. She gets upset by her fiance’s behaviour, happens to be the one who loses her clothes, finds her powers not strong enough to overcome the surfer’s, and uses her femine wiles and sensitivity to help save the day. She’s likeable enough, and I’m sure it plays to male idea of a fantasy woman, but she’s hasn’t done herself any favours in the credibility stakes. Michael Chiklis, meanwhiles, as Ben Grime/The Thing, takes more of a back seat, having been the focal point and heart of the first film. He’s happy and in love with the beautiful but blind Alicia (Kerry Washington).
The film’s real star, however, is Chris Evans. Irritating as Sue’s brother Johnny/Human Torch first time round, here he is positively pushed to the forefront, with plenty of set pieces. Even the way he is shot suggests that our gaze should be lingering here, and he has a very pleasing, laid back style. His character has developed considerably and continues to do so throughout the film. He still loves the fame, fast cars, and fast women, but now he’d actually quite like to get a bit more serious with one of them. Having shone in Sunshine earlier this year, Evans could well be the next breakthrough star.
Despite some clumsy dialogue, including some ropey scientific explanations that sound they like came straight out of Star Trek, there is a lot to recomemend Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. The action is fast and looks spectacular and, whilst we’re used to seeing American cities under attack from various foes on the big screen, it’s quite something to see our own London landmarks being in the firing line. Julian McMahon is back doing what he does so well, as Victor/Dr Doom, the pantomime villain, whilst Laurence Fishburne brings a requisite touch of humanity to the film’s greatest special effect, the computer-generated Silver Surfer who, it has been revealed, will be starring in a film of his own.
Can the Fantastic Four save The World? Will Reed and Sue save their relationship? Can she even save her clothes from disappearing? Tune in, in a couple of years time, for the next instalment...
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