Great Balance of Humor and Drama

Rating: 8/10 (11 July 2019)

Sam Raimi's Spider-Man is full of iconic moments that have been referenced in other movies. The scene in which a single drop of Parker's blood alerts Norman Osborn to his presence is quickly alluded to in the animated film Hoodwinked, although I suppose the argument could be made that was actually inspired by Mission: Impossible. The famous upside-down kiss between Spider-Man and Mary Jane Watson, however, is certainly unique and it is clearly this moment that is referenced in a montage at the beginning of Shrek 2. Spider-Man definitely raised the bar for action movies and superhero movies alike when it was released, but has the film aged well? Let's dive in.
The movie opens with a voiceover monologue by Peter Parker (played by Tobey Maguire in this universe) in which it is apparent he is talking to the audience, asking if we want to know who he is. Starting a movie with the use of voiceover can be risky since it might indicate heavy use of voiceover later in the film, which is not ideal for a visual medium; most would choose the "show don't tell method." Luckily, voiceover is only used to project Parker's thoughts a few times in the film, and since it is used sparingly, it proves to be effective and not a nuisance at all.
While this is obviously an action movie and a superhero movie, the writing gives the film a pace that lets it unfold like a slow drama. Unlike the current Marvel Studios Spider-Man movies, this movie is smart at picking where and how to be funny rather than trying to force humor down the audience's throat every minute. Guess what? This doesn't make Spider-Man any less entertaining than Homecoming or Far From Home. The way this movie was written, it knows which scenes demand humor and which demand drama.
While the humor and drama in Raimi's movie balance each other out, the drama is handled especially well. As Parker states at the movie's opening, this story is all about a girl: Mary Jane Watson (not unlike Homecoming). The way Maguire plays the role, it is interesting to see this shy and awkward high school boy gradually build up his nerve to talk to and express himself to the girl he has liked since he was a child. We root for Maguire's Peter Parker as he slowly comes out of his shell as we simultaneously laugh with Spider-Man as he discovers and tests out his powers. As far as the relationships go in this movie they are generally well-handled, but Mary Jane Watson starting to date Harry Osborn is glossed over, and their relationship is underdeveloped as well.
Spider-Man may play out like a slow drama, but that does not mean it is not exciting. As stated above, the sequences in which Parker discovers his new powers and tests them for himself prove to be particularly entertaining, although some skills seem to be mastered way too quickly (his fast reflexes saving MJ and her food is almost corny). It is also very interesting how the movie employs a montage to combine action sequences with an explanation of how Parker is able to get such good photographs of himself fighting crime. The action sequences between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin are fine overall, but the Goblin is honestly an underwhelming villain in this movie. Early in the movie the writer quickly throws in a reason for his insanity (one side effect of the performance enhancers is literally "insanity" according to one of Osborn's employees) and his plan to join with Spider-Man to - uh, wreak havoc? - is very poorly explained.
Raimi's Spider-Man proves to be an entertaining drama that does not overplay its use of comedy. There is a great balance between the drama, humor, and action in this movie, making it a great experience for all ages and a visually remarkable movie.
8/10