--- title: "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/fantastic-four-rise-of-the-silver-surfer/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/fantastic-four-rise-of-the-silver-surfer" critics_score: 51 critics_reviews: 13 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007): what the critics said Critics' score 51 from 13 reviews: 1 positive, 8 mixed, 4 negative. The consensus is mixed, with several critics finding a modest improvement on the first film rather than a persuasive reason to celebrate the sequel. Praise centres on the Silver Surfer, whose presence and animation give the reviews their most consistent point of interest. The lighter tone also wins some support: several critics enjoy the cheerful silliness, comic-book humour and undemanding action. Better effects earn qualified approval, though the praise is not uniform. Reservations cluster around thin characterisation, weak villains and drama with little at stake. The spread is wide: warmer reviews accept the film as disposable family entertainment, while detractors find it dull and inconsequential. The New York Times is particularly hostile, citing recycled ideas, dead air and casual sexism. Den of Geek offers a more divided response, enjoying the inventive action and Doug Jones’s Silver Surfer performance but finding the ending rushed and incoherent. ## Empire — Angie Errigo Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. Errigo finds the sequel silly but more polished than its predecessor, with a decent balance of action and juvenile humour. She singles out the Silver Surfer as the film’s most compelling presence. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/fantastic-four-rise-silver-surfer-review/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 15 June 2007. Bradshaw finds the film entertaining despite its silliness and lightweight tone. He praises its defiantly cheerful, no-brainer romp while noting its lack of gravitas. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2007/jun/15/actionandadventure.family) ## Screen Daily — John Hazelton Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 14 June 2007. The visible excerpt introduces the sequel as aimed at a broader, slightly younger audience, but the review’s verdict is hidden behind the paywall. It identifies the Silver Surfer as a major new Marvel character, without revealing what the critic praises or criticizes. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/fantastic-four-rise-of-the-silver-surfer/4033128.article) ## Radio Times — Andrew Collins Rating 3/5. The review gives the film a middling-positive verdict. It singles out Ioan Gruffudd’s improved American accent for praise. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-a7qlz8/4-rise-of-the-silver-surfer/) ## Total Film — Total Film Rating 3/5. 15 June 2007. The review finds the sequel an improvement that only just delivers, though it remains below Marvel’s best. It praises the Silver Surfer’s striking arrival while criticizing Victor Von Doom as a weak, ill-fitting villain. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/fantastic-four-rise-of-the-silver-surfer-review-2/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Michael Rechtshaffen Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 14 June 2007. The critic finds the sequel a modest improvement over its predecessor, though its clunky dialogue and underwritten characters limit it. The welcome satire and upgraded effects, especially the Silver Surfer, are singled out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/fantastic-four-rise-silver-surfer-review-movie-2007-158219/) ## Variety — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 14 June 2007. Chang finds the sequel breezy and cheerfully entertaining, but ultimately disposable and lacking real dramatic stakes. He praises the Silver Surfer’s striking animation and preserved character mythology, while criticizing the underdeveloped heroes and uneven visual effects. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2007/film/awards/fantastic-four-rise-of-the-silver-surfer-2-1200558569/) ## Slant Magazine — Nick Schager Rating 2/4. 15 June 2007. Schager finds the sequel modestly entertaining but hampered by weak execution and forgettable drama. He praises its lighthearted fidelity to the comic-book source material. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/fantastic-four-rise-of-the-silver-surfer/) ## Time Out — Mark Salisbury Rating 2/5. 12 June 2007. The page is identified as a review, but the review text is unavailable, so its verdict cannot be determined. The visible metadata does not identify what the critic praised or criticized about this film. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/fantastic-four-rise-of-the-silver-surfer-1) ## The New York Times — MANOHLA DARGIS Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 15 June 2007. Dargis pans the sequel as a crashing bore assembled from recycled ideas and dead air. She singles out its casual sexism and dumb quips as part of its many failures. [Read the review](https://archive.nytimes.com/query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage-9D07E4DC153FF936A25755C0A9619C8B63.html) ## Eye for Film — Amber Wilkinson Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 13 June 2007. Wilkinson finds the sequel a clear improvement: tighter, funnier and suitable for family audiences. She praises the better effects and make-up, while describing Tim Story’s direction as merely workmanlike. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/fantastic-four-rise-of-the-silver-surfer-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) ## Den of Geek — Craig Lines Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 15 June 2007. Lines finds plenty to enjoy but says a rushed, incoherent ending undermines the film. He praises the inventive action, comic-book-style dialogue, and Doug Jones’s performance as the Silver Surfer. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/fantastic-four-rise-of-the-silver-surfer-review/) ## Digital Spy — Nick Levine Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 16 June 2007. The critic finds the film an oddly inconsequential, boring blockbuster. They single out its lack of a convincing villain and superheroes who never feel super. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a61351/fantastic-four-rise-of-the-silver-surfer-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/fantastic-four-rise-of-the-silver-surfer.md