Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer: (w/ Figure)

The Fantastic Four is back -- this time from the same team that delivered the lukewarm first film, though thankfully they got it a bit more right this time, despite the appearance of some of the same hiccups that will continue to plague the series. What the sequel does right is bring with it an air of fun that families and uncritical fans can sit back and enjoy after suffering through far too many mega serious comic adaptations (Superman Returns) or commercial junk that somehow earned money despite its high reading the junk meter (Ghost Rider -- you're it). Sometimes tone is everything and that's really what saves Rise of the Silver Surfer from its obvious blemishes. There's a buoyant air to the flick, made even more amusing since the plot is basically "the end of the world if saved by a dysfunctional superhero unit." New to the series is the title's main character -- the Silver Surfer, who though voiced by Lawrence Fishbourne, is brought to life with grace by performance actor and frequent Guillermo Del Toro collaborator Doug Jones. Just watching this shiny alien being is a big screen wonder, which thanks to the seamless FX, makes this a mighty Marvel to behold indeed. As far as the story is concerned, the film is thankfully not weighed down by any kind of origin tale, which adds much to the overall product.