The most amazing thing about this film is the critic who has to scribble in a notebook wearing 3D glasses in IMAX…..
The story opens on young Spider Man/Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) being left on the doorstep of his aunt (Sally Fields) and his Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen). Note: Sheen seems to be spending a summer moving from the role as Steve Carrell’s dad in Seeking a Friend to Uncle Ben to
Spidey.
Peter Parker is an earnest, sensitive, high school boy who wears his father-loss pain on his sleeve, though he has enough sophistication to hang a “Rear Window’ movie poster in his bedrooom. When he happens upon an old leather attaché case in his Uncle’s basement, he finds info that leads him to a corporation of serious/geek scientists (any New Yorker will recognize this venue as the Hearst building on 8th Avenue.) It’s there that he finds Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans)a one-armed scientist as well as his high school crush Gwen (Emma Stone) who happens to conveniently be cast as Dr. Connors assistant. She spends much of the movie strutting in go-go boots and mini skirts, holding a clipboard in order to seem intelligent. (this role is a huge downer after The Help.)
When Parker happens in a VIP room where Connors has set up experiments to create a genetic limb, Parker is bitten by a spider and begins
the slow and awkward process of sticking to objects….As his web-stick strength is born the subway scene is really priceless
as he (and we) recognize his innocence and awkwardness of this new unwanted power.
One might wonder if Garfield could carry the franchise, but he’s actually more likeable than Tobey Maguire, bringing a sort of
independent film depth to an otherwise mindless level film. He’s charming and simplistic in a boy-next-door way that comes naturally to
Garfield. THis is actually the best Spider man yet.
The only derailing of the film is when minor subplots (addressed but lost) give way to Connors turning into a sort of Hulkish-lizard
with British accent/cross-species genetics-mad scientist. Enter Captain Stacy (Denis Leary) well-cast as the man who believes he runs Gotham (wrong film, I meant Manhattan) and doesn’t need a crazed vigilante doing HIS job.
We play superior position with Spiderman’ secrets along with Spidey – realizing this is the one time you wouldn’t want your
child to be good at Math equations (the ability to overthrow/save NYC.) Highly entertaining – especially the emotional scene where the cranes appear on the skyline to assist Spidey’s effort. This film gives a whole new meaning to the words “Caught in a web of lies.” Three and a half tiaras