"Silver Surfer": The critics speak

The reviews are streaming in for “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.” A sampling:

Earnest, gee-whiz and foursquare, this simple and intentionally inoffensive sequel receives points for being easy to take and scrupulously avoiding obvious sources of irritation. - Los Angeles Times

“Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer” is diverting, at times even visually impressive (give the crew credit for an inspired and magnificent re-interpretation of the planet-eating Galactus), but has neither the spirit or style of “Spider-Man“ nor the ambition of “X-Men.” - Seattle Post-Intelligencer

The bar had been set low after the first fantastic bore. “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer” sails over that bar like it was able to leap small buildings in a single bound. - McClatchy Newspapers

The filmmakers behind all these comic-book adaptations always insist they won’t come back for more unless the sequels can top the originals. The “Fantastic Four” gang has managed to outdo itself the second time around — and still make a bad movie. - Associated Press