Spidey Senses: Review of Spiderman Into the Spiderverse

Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse

Directors: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman

By Alex Watson

Spiderman has gone through multiple facelifts since Sam Raimi first thrust the web-slinger onto our screens in 2002. Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse might just be the boldest and best outing yet for this franchise. Giving not one but five different origin stories, this movie is able to successfully juggle these numerous characters often to hilarious effect. The animation here on another level and the effect is jaw-dropping, the Marvel universe has a fascinating new ace up its sleeve or Spidey suit in this case!

In another dimension of the Spiderman universe, Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) is a high school kid who is bitten by radioactive spider. Attempting to embrace his destiny as the Spiderman, Miles' life is further complicated after the villain Kingpin (Liev Schreiber) opens multiple dimension. Soon our hero comes into contact with a down on his luck Peter Parker (Jake Johnson) and several other versions of the famed hero.

So often superhero films struggle to manage multiple heroes and villains, this is definitely not the case in Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse. The movie plays it smart by focusing primarily on Miles because a character he's impressively layered. A graffiti and hip-hop loving young boy from the block thrust into a fancy prep school who has a dysfunctional relationship with his overbearing cop father (Brian Tyree Henry) and is in awe of cool uncle Aaron (Mahershala Ali), Miles is a hero who is relatable on many levels. His early missteps and freakouts regarding his newly attained powers are played for laughs expertly, such as when he gives fellow student Gwen Stacey (Hailee Steinfeld) an unfortunate new haircut.

Directors Persichetti, Ramsey and Rothman wisely opt to flip this origin story on its head by showing us a far different and less appealing side to Peter Parker. In his own dimension, the original Spidey became a down and out loser. Watching this new incarnation gives a new stream of belly laughs. However, these are quadrupled when the other versions of this character are introduced including Nic Cage's wonderful Spiderman Noir and John Mulaney's bizarre cartoon pig Spiderham! Together these characters blend together seamlessly yet Miles instantly feels like the outsider. The notion of taking a leap of faith is heavily emphasized and frequently we see our hero struggle to fit. While the three co-directors are able to keep the laughs in good stock, they are also able to inject a real heart and soul into proceedings. Often this picture finds moments of levity and heartbreak when we least expect them.

The real star of Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse is the animation itself. The colors and the crisp 2D feel make this the perfect way to bring this origin story to life. It's particularly effective during a thrilling ending as the multiple universes open at once and the space-time continuum is set to go nuts! Miles emerges as the true hero of the piece and this universe shows that Spiderman's identity goes beyond Peter Parker and how its what's behind the mask that counts. Of course, there is a loving tribute to the great Stan Lee who manages to sneak in one final cameo.

Shameik Moore is the perfect choice for Miles Morales and former star of the ill-fated Netflix show 'The Get Down' is pitch perfect. Able to channel the restlessness and sheer excitement of a young teen, Moore wonderfully captures a hero in waiting. While Jake Johnson is often a love-hate figure onscreen, there are few actors who could have played Peter Parker as such an endearing failure. His lazy yet surprisingly deep delivery shows a man whose clinging his one chance to make things right. Liev Schreiber makes perhaps the most perfect Kingpin Marvel has seen yet. Vincent D'onofrio made a thumping presence in TV's Daredevil, but Schreiber's growling voice gives this man a whole new level of chills.

Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse is one of the biggest surprises Marvel could have sprung on its fans. Funny, refreshing and memorable- Miles Morales is one character we would love to have a second outing!