Fantastic Four: The Deuce Is Dropped

Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer came out last weekend, and I have to say, it isn't terrible. Don't get me wrong, it isn't good, but it is pleasantly quaint if you can get over the fact that Doctor Doom sounds like he's actually talking out of his anus and is, for no real reason, cured of all horrible facial scarring. The whole power switching thing and the fact that Galactus is nothing more than a grumpy cloud are also pretty lame (I'm not sure when he and the Absorbing Man from Hulk became the same character), but hey, you get to see Reed doing the rubber band man with some GDs on the dance floor, and I'm pretty sure you can make out Jessica Alba's flaming nipples when she torches out. Johnny Storm is pretty much the focus of the movie, which is good seeing as he has the most personality, and the Surfer doesn't look half bad. At the very least, his Morpheus voice is way cooler than Doom's. All in all, the movie is mildly amusing, unintelligent fun, until it takes a tragic turn with the gruesome death of Detective Frank Pembleton. He will be missed. (C)