But what initially appears to be the franchise's saving grace could also be its undoing. The first film, released in 2005, introduced us to the four astronauts and scientists who in a freak space mishap were exposed to radiation and developed superhuman strengths. It was a bumpy road for them, but as this second film opens it seems they've dealt with their changes and new-found fame pretty well.
The Human Torch is popular with all the ladies, the Thing is popular with the kids, and Mr Fantastic and the Invisible Woman are happily planning their wedding. They're one big happy family..
.wholesome and sweet. This bliss is rudely interrupted by the so-called Silver Surfer, a silver being from another world who turns up on, you guessed it, a silver surfboard.
But he hasn't come to earth to catch some waves. Mysterious things are happening wherever he goes. Snow is falling on the Pyramids and London's Thames River has been sucked dry.
It turns out the surfer is merely the sign of things to come. An alien life form that eats entire worlds is heading our way, and it seems that the only way to stop it is for the Fantastic 4 to team up with their arch-nemesis Dr Doom. It's easy to praise the Fantastic 4 for being fun and action filled.
This film does what superhero blockbusters are meant to do, and it does it with a minimum of fuss. Director Tim Story's movie looks good, the effects are appropriate and there are the right amount of explosions and calamitous moments to keep one engaged. And while you could hardly call it meaningful character development, the interplay between our heroes is entertaining.
All the principal cast members have returned. Ioan Gruffudd is the square-jawed Mr Fantastic, alias Reed Richards, Jessica Alba the beautiful but fiesty Sue Storm, Chris Evans is her cocky but charming brother Johnny, and Michael Chiklis provides a solid centre (literally) as the rock-clad Ben Grimm. Even Julian McMahon impresses as the sneering, devilish villain.
But while Fantastic 4 may be a cult comic, inspiring generations of fans around the world, Rise of the Silver Surfer seems unable to really make the leap from the page to the big screen. And the main problem is the story. While the big superheroes get complex and moody, they are in fact assisted by sophisticated narratives and first class film makers.
This Fantastic 4 adventure is really let down by its script. It is, after all, about a guy on a surfboard that's out to destroy the world. Comic book movies generally require you to take a leap of faith into the unbelievable, but this film asks you to go even further and accept a very silly narrative that's also hampered by some of the most wooden, laughably atrocious dialogue of this current blockbuster season.
And in my humble opinion, I do think these guys got duped when the superpowers were handed out. Mr Fantastic might by useful as a human rubber band, but I bet he's really envious of Superman. The makers of Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer have been quoted as saying they set out to make a movie that was family-friendly.
That means it's been designed with 12 year-old boys in mind. If you're any older, you might find this cinematic outing a little too much to take, and not enough to satisfy. But I'm sure if there's a third film, all the members of the Fantastic 4 will start brooding and get serious.
Superpowers, it seems, will do that to you. But what initially appears to be the franchise's saving grace could also be its undoing.
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