FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER (D: Tim Story, 92 min) Rating: NNNNN
updated June 15th, 3:43 pm
FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER is a total wipeout. While the four-colour FF inspired the delightful Invincibles animated adventure a couple of years back, somehow the original family of accidental heroes haven’t been able to unravel the secret formula to live action success, like, say, the similarly team-oriented X-Men. With a plot as thin as Mr. Fantastic’s outstretched arms – something about a planet-devouring dust cloud called Galactus on a collision course with Earth and the silver-skinned spaceman who heralds its arrival – the Marvel Comics sequel is like a mediocre sitcom with superpowers. The only thing missing is an audience laugh track and decent special effects. On the up side, the Silver Surfer, a cosmic oddity with the voice of Laurence Fishburne, is very cool. If only they had built a stronger story around his arrival, and found a more appropriate voice. Keanu Reeves, say.
Rating: NN
Dir by Tim Story, runs 92 min
film times
It’s sequel time again, and the fact that the first instalment of the Fantastic Four didn’t exactly blow anyone’s mind hasn’t stopped Tim Story from offering us this follow-up.
With any luck, the wedding of Reed Richards (Ioan Gruffudd) and Sue Storm (Jessica Alba) will have a few Hollywood resonances (à la TomKat) to amp up the fun factor, but this adaptation of the famed comic is probably counting on creative CGI tactics to make an impact.
As our happy couple prepares for the marriage ceremony, strange climatic disturbances start taking place around the globe.
Is this the Silver Surfer making waves? Could be, but if you’re a Silver Surfer admirer, be warned. Early buzz suggests that the Fantastic Four, not the Surfer, are the stars.
Opens Friday (June 15). Screened after press time – see review June 15 at www.nowtoronto.com/film.
