Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse review
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was a revelation. A seemingly once in a lifetime spectacle that captured all of the charm, heart, tragedy and humor of a Spider-Man adventure that was equally embraced by both diehard comic book fans and movie Spidey fans. Against all odds, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is even better laying credible claim to one of the strongest comic book entries ever. No need for an asterisk limiting it to just the animation category.
Everything is better this time around, which is actually amazing considering the high level of quality of Into the Spider-Verse. Both Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) and Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) are missing each other after their fast connection in teaming with a few other Spider-folks in helping to save the Multiverse.
Not only was there a mounting attraction, but both appreciated having someone else their own age to talk about being a hero. Since Gwen was ported back to her home world, they’ve both been kinda moping around missing the other. It’s not like Verizon has a Multiverse Friends and Family plan.
Miles is also finding it increasingly more challenging navigating being a student, a superhero and a son to his loving parents, Jeff (Bryan Tyree Henry, Eternals) and Rio (Luna Lauren Velez).
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Writers Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Dave Callaham get so much right with the script, but easily one of the strongest elements is the family dynamic. Jeff and Rio aren’t treated like insufferable, overbearing and overprotective parents yet they’re not pushovers and aren’t so busy trying to be pals with Miles that they forget to be parents. This also reinforces the value of a secret identity and how it can be used an effective superhero storytelling tool instead of going the easy way out and having everyone know the hero’s identity.
Gwen has her own family challenges after a misunderstanding with her father, Capt. Stacy (Shea Whigham, Agent Carter). This leads to Gwen joining up with a conglomerate of Spider-characters from the multiverse including Jessica Drew (Issa Rae), Pavitr Prabhakar (Karan Soni), Hobie Brown (Daniel Kaluuya) and the super intense Miguel O’Hara (Oscar Isaac).
After dispatching a pesky villain, Spot (Jason Schwartzman, Moonrise Kingdom), Miles doesn’t pay his would-be archnemesis much mind. Spot has other ideas and learns he has the ability to travel through the multiverse using the portals on his body.
Miles and Gwen reunite as he feels obligated to stop the villain he underestimated while Gwen tries to carry out her mission without jeopardizing everything and everyone she cares about.
The love of the source material is obvious. Directors Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson throw in so many Easter Egg characters and references that it’s going to be hard to catch them all in one setting.
The script pulls shout outs from all facets of Spider-Man lore from video games, comic books and the live-action movies that preceded it. Fans of any era of Spider-Man won’t be left out.
Pavitr, Jessica and Hobie are easily some of stronger new additions with Miguel fulfilling the antagonist role without being a straight up villain.
One of the highlights of Into the Spider-Verse was the unique animation style for each of the various Spider-Men/Women. Across the Spider-Verse goes to the next level by giving the various worlds their own visual. Gwen’s world is animated like a hypnotic abstract paintings, Spot’s realm is a mix of harsh blacks and whites and Hobie’s color crash style are some of the standouts.
The overall animation is stellar with so much clear effort put into making the visuals seamless, energetic and an incredibly mesmerizing experience. The final act is superb with an emotional cliffhanger that lands big time.
Across the Spider-Verse now puts this saga one final strong installment away from joining Christopher Nolan’s Batman saga, the MCU Captain America, Guardians of the Galaxy and ironically, the Sony/MCU Spider-Man films as the best superhero movie trilogy. And at this rate, it wouldn’t be a shocker if it takes the crown.
Rating: 10 out of 10
Photo Credit: Sony