The second Fantastic Four Marvel comic book adaptation RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER continues the light, comic and corny spirit of the first film.  Again, the four - Mr. Fantastic (Ioan Gruffudd), the Invisible Girl (Jessica Alba), the Human Torch (Chris Evans) and the Thing (Michael Chiklis) are continuously bantering and poking fun at each other till they face a common enemy, which in this case is the Silver Surfer (voiced by Laurence Fishburne). 

Director Tim Story (who directed TAXI and the first FANTASTIC FOUR) takes his time with the material.  An unrelated segment involving the Fantastic Four travelling economy class is an example.  The action only starts half hour through the film.  That is a long wait considering the film is only 95 minutes in length.  But good things do not necessarily happen to those who wait.  In fact, the film drags during the second half despite all the action.

A few current events are drawn into the story.  The wedding of Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman runs problems as most Hollywood celebrities do with paparazzi.  Global warming is suggested for a possible cause of the unexplained occurrences triggered by the Silver Surfer.  Though these seem trite, they are consistent with the playful mood of the film.  When Mr. Fantastic is dragged for the wedding, his cold feet literally extend to the ground.  Nothing is to be taken too seriously.  Even the special effects – the snow in Egypt and frozen waters in Japan – ups the cheese factor.  But the segment involving the chaos caused by the surfer around the London Eye is well executed.  Those in the know will be amused to watch a cameo by Stan Lee, the creator of the Fantastic Four comic, as a rejected wedding guest at the celebrity wedding.

RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER is obviously aimed at a family audience.  The words: “Aw, crap!” can be heard time and again uttered by the Thing.  Unfortunately, this ploy limits the film from rising above what it could have been.