Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer: C

With the comic book world continually making appearances on the big screen, audiences have come to expect certain elements from Marvel-inspired movies. So in light of all of the hype surrounding "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer," action, explosions and epic storylines are no doubt on the minds of most comic fans. Unfortunately, in a world dominated by the likes of Spiderman and Batman, the Fantastic Four hits audiences with a whimper of mediocrity, unable to match other comic book films in plot, character or acting talent.\nIn the movie, the Fantastic Four are faced with the prospect of being famous, complicating weddings, endorsement deals and love lives. But that drama is superseded by a cosmic anomaly who threatens to destroy the universe. Modeled after the character in the comic's Galactus series, the Silver Surfer (Laurence Fishburne and Doug Jones) emerges as a destroyer of worlds. As time is running out, the Four must find a way to stop the shimmering menace and defeat an old enemy, as an impending evil hangs literally overhead.\nFrom the love story to action sequences, the punch lines to the punch outs, cliches are the name of the game for the Fantastic Four. The plot is predictable, and every archetypical line is expected. The acting is also sub par, as Jessica Alba gives one of the worst performances of her career as the Invisible Woman, a.k.a. Susan Storm. Couple this with the fact that director Tim Story underutilizes the film's best attribute, the Silver Surfer, and the result is a film that fans can afford to miss.\nThat said, the film does have a few saving graces that keep it from being a total bust. Though not seen enough in battle sequences, the Silver Surfer and the cinematography surrounding him is one of the most exciting sights that can be found in theaters this summer. Story also does a wonderful job of creating Galactus, a creature almost as large as the solar system. And despite dismal performances from his counterparts, Chris Evans perfectly captures the cocky character of Johnny Storm.\nIn short, go for the Surfer and go for the comic book comparison, but don't be surprised at your disappointment when the credits roll. Maybe the third movie will save this crashing comic-book franchise from destroying the world.