The military in the person of Andre Braugher bullies the Four into helping track this guy down. With the Torch in hot pursuit, the Surfer sails down the side of a skyscraper and through a tunnel. This gives a hint of hope that the movie will pick up. Rise of the Silver Surfer is slow to gain its rhythm, but that leaves room for a few decent acting moments.

Director Tim Story struggles to maintain a consistent tone, but overall the adventure lacks the polish and integration we have come to expect from superhero flicks. The effects are indeed dazzling and the story even finds some heart for the third act. Beyond a few good special-effects sequences - notably the Human Torch (Chris Evans) chasing the Silver Surfer between skyscrapers, the movie is only recommended for those who like their comic-book adventures short, plotless and shallow.