Get ready for fun sensory overload. This first animated Spider-Man movie gives these filmmakers the freedom to expand the universe with more characters, humor, diversity and far more action. And it’s so colorful! But you’ll have to let go of what you’ve seen before, even your concept of the previous Peter Parkers seen in the live action films.
Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rothman directed this superhero epic with visuals that are a combination of hand-drawn animation (like the old comics) melded with high tech computer generated animation. It took 140 animators to make this film helping to take off on characters from the original comic books created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.
Phil Lord and Chris Miller came up with this concept. They’re known for 21 and 22 Jump Street with another maybe on the way, Lego Land and Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. They are also working on another Lego Land. Now with the chance to add animation to the Spider-verse, the sky isn’t the limit for these two creative Writer/Producers. They could pull anything out of the sky or alternative universe, and they do. It’s all a little confusing until all of the characters get introduced.
Chris Pines is the voice of the Peter Parker/Spider-Man we all know from Spider-Man’s “normal” universe. He’s not there for long. Just for narration and set up. He introduces Miles Morales from Brooklyn voiced by Shameik Moore who becomes the main character in this Spider-verse. This high schooler of Puerto Rican/African American descent gets bit by a radioactive spider in a New York subway. Miles is just discovering his powers and instead of shooting from the hip, he’s having trouble shooting webs from his wrist.
He meets an older, crusty and paunchy Peter Parker (voiced by Jake Johnson) slung into his radar from an alternate universe who shows him the ropes, or webs, as they navigate New York City. This is not your ordinary Spider-man tale. It’s a down and dirty urban one with laughs. They band together to fight the villain, Wilson Fisk or Kingpin, (voiced by Liev Schreiber). He’s built a Super Collider which exposes the world to chaos and confusion from evil outsiders and Spiders from alternate universes.
Miles is pretty normal and engaging like when he’s completely mortified when his Cop Father (Bryan Tyree Henry) who drops him off at school saying “I love you” in a booming voice over his squad car speakers so all the kids can hear. Worse? Demanding Miles say it back, so the whole school can hear. So embarrassing.
Miles constantly runs into situations with other Spider-types in a diverse-verse of Spider-Men AND Women including African-American, Latino, Female, young, old and Lily Tomlin as Aunt May/Spider-Mam). There’s even one fashioned after the cartoon character Porky Pig. Not even many parents might remember stuttering Porky, especially in a bright red, weird design that could scare anyone.
This Spider-ham, also known as Peter Porker, is voiced by John Mulvaney. Hailee Steinfeld is the voice of the cool girl with attitude from school, Gwen Stacy. That’s her cover because she, too, is one savvy super hero. There’s even Spider-Man Noir voiced by Nicolas Cage! Powerful ensemble. Together, this band of Spider-heroes is fighting super villains coming in from alternative universes orchestrated by Kingpin.
Phil Lord, Rodney Rothman and Chris Miller take great liberties with the story because the animation allows for anything to happen. When the ensemble of Spider-Men and Woman are on a mission, there’s room for a lot more action in totally implausible situations. They literally climb the walls/ceilings/buildings, whatever.
In addition, specific references to details from the original comic books will send the fan boys and girls into a euphoric state. Plus, there is a very special, long animated cameo by Stan Lee that pays a great tribute to Spider-Man creator. Giving Stan the Man his due is very inspiring and moving.
You have to suspend reality, or whatever concept of Spiderman you’ve had before to accept this film. It’s very different, but the message is clear. Anyone can be a super-hero, given the chance.
And you don’t have to get bit by a radioactive spider to fight evil and do good deeds. At 2 hours the film runs a little long for kids, but stay through the credits for more fun. The story isn’t that great, but the characters and action are. With all the explosions we thought we were seeing a Michael Bay film. But it is fun to see Lord and Miller’s style, using the unusual combo of old school with high tech animation. These Spideys can be anyone and do anything in this film, and they do! So fasten your seat belt for this wild multi Super hero ride.
Sony/Columbia/Marvel 1 hour 57 minutes PG
