Well past the point of watching the Spiderman origin story too many times, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) blew into cinemas and told the story yet again. Not one time, but dozens as it was a running joke. With a strong story, dazzling visuals, and a running time of under two hours, it was one of the best films of its year. It even won an Oscar.
This summer we have its sequel and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse falls way off the skyscraper. The film struggles with repetitiveness and is overly eager to top itself, resulting in an excess of high-octane action sequences that are hard to follow.
There are 280 different Spider-people in this film and not one I cared about.
The art, while amazing, is also just trying to top the last film. That misguided, blaring purpose stuck with me more than the artistry involved. Also bloated, the running time. Two hours and 20 minutes built to a cliffhanger with another film to end whatever story they thought they had going.
Maybe someone out there is willing to wait a year or more to see how "Spot" is defeated, but after this long session I'm the one who feels defeated.
In a nutshell: Too long. Too much. Too little to care about.
Where to see it: In your friendly, neighborhood theater.
Award potential: My spider-sense says it's a sure nominee for Best Animated Film.
The Ten Buck Review: Not worth ten bucks, not two and a half hours.
In a nutshell: Too long. Too much. Too little to care about.
Where to see it: In your friendly, neighborhood theater.
Award potential: My spider-sense says it's a sure nominee for Best Animated Film.
The Ten Buck Review: Not worth ten bucks, not two and a half hours.
