A Reel Review: SPIDER-MAN - INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE

The Amazing Spider-Man, one of Marvel Comics’ most popular characters (to say the least), has been all over the place on the big-screen in terms of quality and quantity. Since 2002 there have been six films carrying his name, and two more as a supporting character…played by three different actors. The world seems dangerously close to being burned out on our friendly neighborhood web-slinger, which is why an animated version that throws everything in and out is welcome. Enter the world of the SPIDER-VERSE. 

Miles Morales (voiced by Shameik Moore), is a teen in NYC who is bitten by a radio-active spider and gains super-powers just like his idol, the amazing Spider-Man (Chris Pine). When Miles and Spidey try to stop a plan by Kingpin (Liev Schreiber) to collapse our universe with alternate dimensions, several alternate people from other universes with spider-powers arrive in our world; including an aging Spider-Man (Jake Johnson), Spider-Woman/Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld), and Spider-Man Noir (Nic Cage). 

At its core, INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE has all the familiar elements of a Spider-origin story. Young Miles is trying to find his way in school and in life, while trying to figure out his relationship with his dad (Brian Tyree Henry), while bonding with his slacker uncle (Mahershala Ali). His inevitable spider-bite and discovery of his powers comes in like checkmarks in a build-a-superhero storybook kit, along with his training by the grown-up Spider-Man and eventual stumbles, falls, and rises. But keeping this story slinging are the added elements of the variations of Spider-people (and animals). Each one adds to the story in their own ways, and their backgrounds are similar, but different…and they all bring Miles to his destiny in great variety. 

There’s a lot of fun to be had once the team of Spider-people (and animals and robots) get together to fight Kingpin, who is still determined to bring in alternate dimensions to our world despite the possible Earth-ending consequences (Kingpin himself is given powerful reasons for doing so), and the battles, chases, and fights are spectacular. The 3D animation style is based on the comics of old, and it’s the closest we can come to seeing a comic moving before our eyes. The different Spider-people have animation styles that match the dimensions they come from; a cartoon pig looks like a cartoon and the Noir Spidey maintains his glorious black-and-white shading. The whole thing is a visual feast. The jokes are light but hit nicely, the pacing is brisk, and a few good twists and surprises here and there despite one surprise being predictable and telegraphed early. 

Acting is wonderful all around. Shameik Moore makes for a great Spidey and captures the essence of Miles nicely, and he is nicely paired with Jake Johnson as the older Peter Parker. Hailee Steinfeld is great as Gwen Stacy. Lily Tomlin pops in as Aunt May, and Kathryn Hahn is a surprise as an alternate version of Doctor Octopus. 

INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE has a lot of familiar pieces and parts in characters, heroes, villains, and situaitons, but it feels fresh and new and has a lot to offer long-time fans and newcomers. It’s the Spider-Man movie we really needed right now, and it shows that the superhero genre has a long way to go before running out of webs to sling. 

BOTTOM LINE: See it