[3.7]
The good: this is a beautiful, engaging, and mostly fun adventure story that is a perfect big-screen experience. The not-so-good: this is also an overlong sequel that lacks a proper conclusion, while racing ahead with exuberant energy that often overwhelms any sense of rhythm it tries to build. Like a kid hopped up on soda and candy, the film bounces through its brightly colored worlds with frenetic joy, with the animators seemingly drunk on the visual potentials at their fingertips (especially after the tremendous praise heaped on the first film). I’m certainly a sucker for excess, but ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE seems intent on bludgeoning us with everyone’s creativity: everywhere, all at once (yes, that other multiversal flick suffered some of the same flaws).
The emotional story of Gwen and Miles is well done, with their relationship explored further, but it often gets lost amid the otherworldly shenanigans. Highlights: Spot is a great villain (here, not so much in the comics), and I’m impressed at the writer’s amazingly creative use for him; the streamlined storytelling for how Miles is the one true Spider-man from his world (a much better explanation than the comics’ overwrought ‘Spider-Totem’ lore); the story raises interesting concepts like predestination, but doesn’t follow through (perhaps in the second sequel, but I have a feeling this will be an attempt to have your cake and eat it too). I was a bit disappointed in how the movie made the other Spideys appear ridiculously villainous, especially Miguel O’Hara. The fan-service jokes are cute and fun, but also feels a bit overwhelming and forced at times (like the vain, beefhead Ben Reilly). Certainly the best addition to the multiversal characters is India’s Spiderman, who lives in Mumbattan. An enjoyable romp that tries a bit too hard to go bigger and faster than the excellent first film, ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE gravest sin is in over-extending it’s narrative into a third film, leaving the end of this movie as a cliffhanger “to be continued.” There’s a lot of loose threads, so this doesn’t at all work as a stand-alone film, and I’m dubious it will cohere as a super-long two-parter. Regardless, as an audience member, this kind of surprise isn’t endearing, but annoying.
burning retina 