Directors: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rotham
Cast Headliners: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Liev Schreiber, many many others most with web-powers
Original Release Date: December 14th, 2018
Animated superhero films may remind oneself of the Walmart bargain bin. Theatrically they've been limited to the likes of the Incredibles or Megamind or Lego Batman...purely comedy. However the lattermost is what should be taken note of since it showed that these movies can deserve a big budget and big attention. Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse is the first theater-tier animated CGI piece for the web-slinger and it certainly makes the case for it. It's a colorful, wild, reference, heart-filled time that will surprise what it means to be a Spider-Man or Marvel film while being nearly everything one would want in some way or another.
The
set-up is something wholly unique to most Spidey films. This is a
world where a Spider-Man/Peter Parker(Chris Pine) is, refreshingly,
an older veteran and fierce competent fellow at his game. He contends
with the likes of the infamous Kingpin/Wilson Fisk(Liev Schrieber),
Green Goblin/Norman Osborn(Jorma Taccone), and the seldom seen deep
lore Prowler who are up to a nefarious plot. Events soon bring in the
young teen Miles Morales(Shameik Moore) to having powers of his own
and leaving this Peter out of the picture. This is all very comics
accurate but luckily for the film its much more.
Miles
finds himself meeting Spider-People from multiple other dimensions in
whats one of the best highlight factors. There's the primary part of
another, older veteran who failed at his life as Spider-Man/Peter
B.Parker(Jake Johnson) who acts as a reluctant mentor to Miles.
Joining him is Spider-Woman (in comics “Spider-Gwen/Ghost
Spider”)/Gwen Stacy(Hailee Steinfeld) where it wasn't Peter who got
bit, the hilariously hard-boiled detective archetype Spider-Man
Noir/Peter Parker(Nicolas Cage), anime-visualed Japanese SP//DR mecha
using schoolgirl Peni Parker(Kimiko Glenn), and literal spider-pig
wacky cartoon animal Spider-Ham/Peter Porker(John Mulaney). Together
this crew aims to stop many more villains from tearing the dimensions
apart.
The
film definitely is at its best when its big, crazy, and varied as
possible. It must be noted though that it would have, and does work,
as merely a Miles movie too. Miles goes through a nice youth focused
arc mirroring Peter and Moore's performance adds to that for the most
part. There's some genuinely decent drama with his cop father
Jeff(Brian Tyree Henry) and his uncle Aaron(Mahersala Ali who's role
must be seen for its semi-depth). Some of the supporting cast gets
lost such as his mother Rio(Luna Lauren Velez) or even Mary Jane
Watson(Zoe Kravitz) but there's just so much else going on. Luckily
this is a bit ridiculously cool Aunt May(Lily Tomlin) who becomes
almost like Alfred Pennyworth from DC.
The
same lost-in-the-shuffle applies to some of the periphery Spiders as
well. Glenn's Peni and Mulaney's Porker have the most jokes from
their visually distinct styles adding to some action beats but are
very bit players late in the film. Cage's Noir is a perfect role for
him with jokes more towards his out-of-time nature although he
doesn't get many lines either. Steinfeld's Gwen is more of a central
role with a cool drumming, competent angle that adds to the lineup.
One perhaps wonders what other spider-people are out there.
One
sings true most of all in Johnson's mentor “hobo” Parker. He is
perfectly schlubby which adds to the role. He's depressed, chubby,
lazy, and broken. This is used to both comedic and emotional effect.
Perhaps one of the best arcs of the film is his as he grows. As an
audience we're so used to seeing the end of a Peter lifecycle. Here
we get the end and its uniquely interesting.
The
villainous side is not much of an impact due to the acid trip nature
of whats going on. The likes of Taccone's Goblin(here, as many,
monstrously different showing the Ultimate Marvel influence),
Tombstone/Lincoln Thompson(Krondon), more cyborg than usual
Scorpion/Mac Gargan(Joaquin Cosio) and a surprising take on Doctor
Octopus are mainly thugs for battle scenes. Prowler brings to mind
an evil Black Panther-meets-Deadpool and has some exciting chases
with more of a bigger personal stake that are intense. Schreiber's
Kingpin goes for more of a generic mafioso accent and take on things
although he has some slight sympathy (perhaps borrowed from the
Netflix take?) and an entertainingly ridiculous physical strength
although in the end he's nothing to write home about.
What
ties all these together is the script. It's a very funny, zany and at
times epic movie. Although directed by a tag team of Bob Persichetti,
Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rotham it was helped produced by acclaimed
animators Phil Lord/Chris Miller. This can be inferred from its meta
tone and reference packed. It truly is The Lego Batman Movie of
Spider-Man with references to old cartoons and movies from the 60s to
Tobey Macguire. However it takes on a bit more of a focused , actual
narrative between that.
Where
it also shines as a piece, an art piece really, is the visual
experience. The CGI graphics are so colorful, stylized, and perhaps a
bit overwhelming. It looks right out of a comic book with sketchy
lines used and panels. There's even at times actual Spider-Man comics
used! This helps the many humorous “origin stories” that occur.
Sometimes the frame rate for this stop motion / comic look can appear
odd but it also makes it strongly stand out in the genre. It's a
color overload of comic candy. There's also some great music by
Daniel Pemberton that's very hip hop and drum inspired between its
electro mania. There may be a bit too much pop and rap music but
remember this is Sony here who has always done that.
The
movie has some lessons about great power and responsibility but
“ultimate”ly it keeps things very easy breezy fun. It is a treat
for Spider-Man fans who don't mind a bit of twists and alternate
takes on the lore. If anything they would know that's some of the
truest Marvel out there. It is simple, comic fun for anyone. Of
course stick through all the credits for a laugh. 8.65 out of 10
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