Good, but I expected better

Rating: 6/10 (30 June 2004)

Writing a review about an endeared comic book character is harder than you might think. You don't want to spend a lot of time talking about the hero that most people who are taking the time to read the review, already know. You can talk about the history of how the film produced a sequel, but movies such as these have so much fanfare before they hit the big screen that by the time they are released, everyone is sick about turning on their television or looking out their office window to see yet another advertisement. And going into the details of the character as not seen in the movie but rather between the pages of an illustrated magazine, forgetaboutit! One small miscue, and the comic book convention guys are all over you petitioning your house and threatening your children (granted I live in a condo and have no kids, but it's possible).
So when the event movie of 2004 hit theaters in June, I wondered how I was going to introduce the review. So for inspiration, I climbed through the attic and found a box labeled 'Old Clothes 1976' and pulled out my old Spider-Man underoo's. (To be fair, I should mention that they were not really underoo's just underpants and a t-shirt that my father had drawn webs on with a black marker). In full gear, I sat in front of my computer and started to type.
Spider-Man 2 is the sequel to the multi-million dollar grossing Spider-Man released just two years earlier. Back at the kick of the proverbial second can are actors Toby McGuire and Kirstin Dunst as Peter Parker (Spider-Man) and Mary Jane Watson, and director Sam Raimi (Evil Dead). SM2 picks up a few years after Spider-Man had rescued Manhattan from the evil deviance of the Green Goblin and things have changed greatly for the web-slinger. The oddly contorted swinging from building to building that was present two years ago has now been perfected, and variations of web constructions have improved for the betterment of mankind. But where thing have improved for Spidey, things have taken a turn for the worse for Peter Parker. He has lost his job, his woman, his friends. Hell, he can't even get a free drink or appetizer at a high-class gala.
Also standing in his way of living happily ever after is none other than Dr. Otto Octavius (or Doc Ock for those of us who feel we have earned the right to be on a nickname basis). Played perfectly by Alfred Molina (Species), Doc Ock and his tentacles of terror strike a deal with Harry Osborn to deliver Spider-Man in exchange for the trillium he needs to complete his scientific experiment. So, Aunt Mae, Mary Jane and half of New York (including an El-Train?) are subjected to the terror that these two adversaries cause atop the tallest structures of the inner city. The special effects for these battle scenes are an improvement on the first installment, following the sequel rules that everything must be bigger and louder. Buildings are destroyed, cars are thrown at will and a riverside dilapidated structure is destroyed which will probably get Spider-Man credit for cleaning up the waterfront.
Of course, like the first film (why change a winning combination), there is a love story at the heart of SM2 that runs cold then hot then cold then hot again. There are so many volleys back and forth between Toby and Kristin that I felt like I was watching Martina Navratalova and Jimmy Conners during a US Open tennis match. But where the Spider-Man had sparks fly, SM2 drags it out over too many scenes and doesn't capitalize on an emotional scene at the beginning of the film where the two speak with but a fence between them.
But love story, blub story. Who cares, right? Are things blown up? Yes. Are the special effects cool? Yes. Is the movie better than the first one?
I am not so sure. I wasn't completely enamored by the original and the second one had too many dry spells to keep my interest for the full two hours. Although the sound was incredible and the visuals stunning the story and dialogue lacked a great deal of substance and final climax between web-head the Octavius was anti-climatic in terms of what was building up to be a phenomenal finish.
There is a good deal of humor in the SM2 and that is a good thing. A scene in an elevator between Spidey and a passenger was good fun, and the violin player outside the theatre house was worth a chuckle or two. But all the snickers in the world couldn't keep me from ignoring some incredibly inane dialogue. The final words as uttered in the film from Mary Jane to Spider-Man ('Go get 'em, tiger') got laughs when it shouldn't and that is not the way you want to remember a film. And don't even get me started on Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head or the Here Comes The Bride musical treats.
When you get down to it though, this is the ultimate summer flick and it will make wheel barrels of money no matter what any of us say. The young women will like it due to Toby's presence, the young men will be happy that Kristin gets wet again near the end while wearing a tight outfit, and teachers and theologians will talk on the storyline of how Spider-Man suffered through a mental condition that affected his web slinging ability.
Oh yeah, I guess the kid target audience will like it too due to the violence and cartoon action. Me, I was indifferent. Glad I saw it and will probably buy it on DVD in 6 months. I just expected a little more.
So there you have it, I can finally take off these stupid Spider-Man underpants and go back to the normal boxers (which also have cob webs.unfortunately, real ones). With Spider-Man 3 more than hinted at the conclusion of the second, I just best not put the Old Clothes box anywhere it can't be easily found.