Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Review: Emotional, visually stunning sequel spins intriguing web

As a sequel, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is a visually stunning, emotion-filled rollercoaster that sets up the end of the trilogy coming in 2024.

The varied animation styles are breathtaking. Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Dave Callaham’s brilliant script features some of the best dialogue in an animated film. The balance between comedy and drama is fantastic with Miles and Gwen Stacy shouldering the story load.

Across the Spider-Verse begins with Gwen returning to her universe. Feeling like more of an outsider than ever and on the outs with her father, she joins a team of people with Spider powers overseen by Miguel O’Hara aks Spider-Man 2099. They travel throughout the multiverse and fix glitches.

Meanwhile, Miles is doing his best as Spider-Man. In typical Spider-Man fashion, he’s having trouble balancing his web-slinging duties with familial obligations. The family dynamic between the Morales family is sensational.

Making the situation more complicated is the sudden reappearance of Gwen in Miles’s universe. Gwen is working for Miguel and Jessica Drew to find Miles’s newest villain, The Spot. Dotted in black-white ink blots, The Spot was created at the end of the last film and wants revenge. Miles tracks Gwen down using his invisibility and jumps through a portal into another Spider-Verse. Miles must face an impossible dilemma and a swarm of spider people in the process.

Across the Spider-Verse is a good setup for the next film in the franchise, but comes up a bit short with an ending that seemed to be building up only to meet an abrupt end. However, the family drama, world-building, animation, comedy and Daniel Pemberton‘s score make Across The Spider-Verse one of the best films of the year so far.

With the overview out of the way, let’s take a deeper look at another Marvel multiverse. There may be some minor spoilers. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is in theaters now.

The Spider Society Across The Spider-Verse

The returning cast shines while the newcomers have potential. Shameik Moore and Hailee Steinfeld are perfect as Miles and Gwen. Steinfeld’s Gwen sets the tone for the film, which on the whole, is more serious than the first film. Jake Johnson‘s take on Peter Parker as a father is fun to watch and cuts the tension between Miles and Miguel.

Oscar Isaac is menacing as Miguel. Issa Rae sounds great as Jessica Drew, but doesn’t have much to do other than scold Gwen. The best newcomer by far is Hobie Brown aka Spider-Punk voiced by Daniel Kaluuya. His rebellious nature regarding Spider Society makes for an important distinction from Miguel’s team and gives Miles an ally.

Jason Schwartzman strikes the right balance as The Spot. He starts as a more comedic nemesis but becomes more of a threat as he begins to understand his abilities. The Spot was created after the Super Collider exploded at the end of Into the Spider-Verse. He’s able to teleport parts of himself as well as his whole body through different dimensions. His vow of vengeance against Miles is a good motivation for the villain. However, unlike Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War, we don’t see The Spot succeed in his plan. Something else happens to Miles that has nothing to do with The Spot.

Rebellious Children

Identity is an important theme in most Spider-Man stores. Across the Spider-Verse features some of the most powerful scenes tackling the dilemma and fallout of revealing your identity.

Gwen and Miles rebel against their parents in Across the Spider-Verse. Gwen’s Spider-Woman has been enemy No.1 for her father, Capt. George Stacy after seeing Spider-Woman standing over her Peter Parker’s body. When Gwen reveals her identity to her father, he doesn’t respond well. His instinct is to arrest his daughter, but Miguel intervenes and begrudgingly asks Gwen to join the team.

Meanwhile, Miles is doing the best he can as the only Spider-Man in his universe. He’s having a tough time balancing being a student and Spider-Man. His grades are great, but he’s missing classes, late for family functions and is dismissive when his parents reprimand him. Bryan Tyree Henry is great as the often-befuddled Jefferson Davis. Luna Lauren Vélez is given more to do in the sequel as Miles’s mother Rio Morales. Jefferson and Rio know Miles is keeping something from them. Miles nearly shares his secret identity on a few occasions but is scared off by Gwen’s warning.

Even though Miles is trying to distance himself from his parents, it’s his mother’s words of wisdom that remind him to resist Miguel’s message and inspire others in the process.

The dilemma

Before arriving in Spider Society, Gwen, Spider-Punk and Miles arrive in another universe. They help save a bunch of people from The Spot. Unfortunately, Miles saves someone who was fated to die and in doing so threatens the multiverse.

Miles arrives at Spider Society and doesn’t receive a warm welcome from Miguel. Miles is the original anomaly or more technically, the spider that bit him was the glitch, which is why there was Peter Parker Spider-Man and a Miles Morales Spider-Man in the same universe.

Before Miles arrived at Spider Society, he was offended that he was offered to join Spider Society. Miguel didn’t want Miles involved and told everyone else why. Miles’s father is fated to die at the hands of The Spot. If Miles intervenes, he could destroy the multiverse.

Miguel believes saving the majority is more important than saving one person. Miles believes he can do both and orders Miguel to send him back. Miguel refuses and a huge chase breaks out.

Peter B. Parker and Gwen are also dealing with whether to support Miles or Miguel. As Gwen, Peter and Miguel explain, the people they lost helped shaped them into the heroes they are today. However, the fight between Miles and Miguel forces them to reconsider.

Across the Spider-Verse final thoughts

As a sequel, Across the Spider-Verse is an impressive accomplishment. The writing, animation, performances and music are fantastic throughout. Some of the new featured characters don’t have much value in the story and the structure of the film as a middle part of a trilogy does hurt the ending of the film a bit, but when the focus stays on Gwen and Miles, Across the Spider-Verse shines.

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