The Amazing Spider-Man

Teenaged Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) is a brilliant but troubled outsider who struggles with his parents abandoning him at a young age. His Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) leads Peter to his father’s former research partner, one-armed Oscorp geneticist Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans). After sneaking off from an Oscorp tour group led by his classmate Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone), Peter wanders into a testing area and is bitten by a genetically modified spider. The spider bite gives Peter extraordinary powers, but with great power comes great responsibility.

It took years for Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man to come to the big screen, so it’s not surprising that this film, directed by the impossibly aptly named Marc Webb, had a rocky production history as well. Initially conceived of as the fourth entry in the ongoing series, it ended up being a complete reboot after Raimi left the project. Given the age (only ten years old) and the quality (solid, despite moments of cheesiness) of the Raimi film, the first question that The Amazing Spider -Man raises is “why?” The easy answer, of course, is money: Spidey is an iconic character, and a new film means a marketing bonanza. But there are deeper reasons that, while not quite rendering the film necessary, at least justify its existence.

First, we need only consider the direction that superhero films have taken in recent years. Both Christopher Nolan’s Batman films and the works that makeup the Marvel Cinematic Universe had taken on an edgy, irreverent, snappily comedic bent. The previous Spider-Man series - and the third film’s tendency to wallow in angst in particular – did not fare well in comparison. The new film, while still quite reserved in some regards, at least represents a tonal shift.

Next, much like the Ultimate universe did for the comics, this film has the opportunity to introduce the character to a new audience. When last we saw him, Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker had already settled into a career as a crime-fighter and gained a degree of self-assurance. Garfield’s portrayal returns Peter to his lonely science nerd roots, thereby making him an underdog that a new (read: young) audience can more easily identify with. The film also gives us a break from the exhaustive crush-on-Mary-Jane-who-is-later-kidnapped formula (poor Kirsten Dunst) by swapping her out for Gwen, who proves to be a more formidable character (and who came first in the comics anyway).

So the rationale is in place, but how about the execution? Amazing has more than a few things going for it. We get an eyeful of breathtaking city scenery as Spiderman zips from tall place to tall place. The action sequences are competently filmed, and the Lizard (Connors’ villainous alter ego), while a somewhat uninspired foe, at least did not come out looking ridiculous.

The acting also seemed quite earnest this go-around. Garfield successfully brings out all of Peter’s flaws and complexities: the sarcastic quips, the feverish dedication, and the complete lack of social graces (something that he arguably overdoes – the constant stammering around Gwen grows tiresome eventually). Stone and Ifans more than pull their weight, but it is a pair of father figures who practically steal the film. Sheen transforms Uncle Ben from a rather flat good-guy mentor/martyr to a deeply moral man who struggles with the hand (surrogate parent to a kid a lot smarter than he is) that life dealt him. Similarly, Dennis Leary takes the role of police captain George Stacy (Gwen’s dad) and elevates it considerably. Stacy is usually depicted as a benevolent, competent veteran who supports Spiderman’s crimesolving endeavors. Leary maintains the competence, shaves some years off the character’s age, makes the role more physical, and seasons it with his trademark sarcastic bite.

But while there is a lot to like here, the film is not without its faults. While the Spiderman of the comics took decades to unmask, this one can’t seem to keep his mask on for more than a few minutes at a time. Then again, given how silly the costume looks here, it’s hard to blame him. Further demerits go to squandering Sally Field as Aunt May. While the filmmakers get credit for changing up the normal portrayal, they don’t give her enough to do. This woman is supposed to be the source of Peter’s inner strength.

For a movie that did not need to be made, The Amazing Spider-Man acquits itself well on most counts. But while the myriad changes and tweaks freshen a familiar tale, it doesn’t really resonate. The film is good, yes, but hardly amazing.

7.75/10