THE first Fantastic Four film didn't really live up to its name - not so much fantastic as not too bad. The Marvel Comics adventure with not one, not two, not even three, but four superheroes was fun in a cheesy B-movie kind of way.

The second, again directed by Tim Story, aims to please fans by bringing in the Silver Surfer, whose appearance heralds the destruction of the Earth.

Where this sequel gets it right is by not trying to overdo things like this summer's disappointing and overlong three-quels, Spider-Man 3 and Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End.

One big point in its favour is the brief-byblockbuster standards running time of just 95 minutes. The mix of actors, humour and special effects is neatly balanced and the quartet of superheroes are appealingly oldfashioned.

Super-brainy scientist Reed Richards (Gruffudd), alias Mr Elastic, is set to wed Susan Storm (Alba) aka the Invisible Woman - provided, that is, he can find her.

Trouble is he just can't leave his work at the office. I suppose that's what comes of being the brainiest chap on the planet.

Wedding vows are delayed as the happy couple, along with supercharged companions Johnny (The Human Torch) Storm (Evans) and Ben Grimm (Chiklis), better known as The Thing due to his rocklike appearance, try to figure out who wants to end the world as we know it.

Chief suspect must be McMahon's Dr Doom, who seems to have recovered from being defeated at the end of the first film in order to taunt and test the heroes once more.

They get in a tizzy when they discovered they're powerless to stop their special powers transferring to each other with confusing and potentially fatal results. One minute Reed is all stretchy and bendy, the next he has flames shooting from his fingers.

Both the actors and the director seem more comfortable this time round. They've found a style and approach that works. The addition of the CGI-created Silver Surfer gives them a mysterious and lethal opponent to work against.

Rise Of The Silver Surfer won't set the cinematic world on fire, despite the presence of flaming Johnny Storm, but is a breath of fresh air in the overcrowed blockbuster marketplace.

Stars: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, Julian McMahon, Kerry Washington, Laurence Fishburne (voice of the Silver Surfer)
Running time: 95 mins
Rating: Three stars