Comes with its share of problems (largely due to its unwieldy plot), but is definitely far better and more emotionally affecting than its predecessor.

Rating: 8/10 (8 June 2014)

On balance, The Amazing Spider-Man was a bit of a disappointment. Not financially, of course - it did so well that the inevitable sequel is now in cinemas, just two years later, and a third film and spin-off are all currently in the works. But there was something missing in that first film in a new trilogy: a little of Peter Parker's soul, and a cohesive, streamlined plot that made full use of its cast's talent and chemistry. While hamstrung by a few of the same problems (notably: a painfully overstuffed story), The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is considerably more exhilarating and rewarding an experience - rich, dark, and brimming over with romance, thrills and emotion, this is really the movie that should have kickstarted a new franchise.
Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) is now a full-fledged superhero/vigilante, even as he struggles with his personal romantic dilemma: he's crazy in love with Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone), but promised her dying dad that he will stay away from her to keep her safe. As he tries to reconcile the conflict between his heart and his head, new threats emerge all around him. Lonely, love-starved Max Dillon (Jamie Foxx) fixates on Spider-Man and believes them to be best friends - which becomes a problem when an industrial accident transforms Max into the literally electric Electro. At the same time, Peter's childhood buddy Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan) returns home, suffering from a debilitating genetic disease that he's convinced can only be cured with a transfusion of Spider-Man's magic blood.
As if that wasn't enough story to chew over, the film also dwells at length on Peter's history with his birth parents. We all know that Mr. and Mrs. Parker left young Peter with his Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) and Aunt May (Sally Field) and never returned for him. Here, that fateful decision is explored more fully, as we come to understand how Richard Parker's (Campbell Scott) research is more intimately tied-up with his son's present and future than anyone knew.
Frequently, the film feels as if it's bursting at the seams, its many narrative threads jostling for attention in a most frustrating way. It flits restlessly from the creepy adoration Max has for Spidey, through to Peter's need to fend off Harry's demands to meet his alter ego, before it morphs into the re-telling of his origin story. And it aims to set the stage for Sinister Six, the supervillain spin-off that Sony's already putting together. Frankly, none of it should work at all.
The odd thing is how Webb manages to blend and elevate his big, clumsy chunks of story with some truly excellent character work. Ultimately, this film succeeds because it's tapped properly into the heart, soul and spirit of its title character: whether it be his cheeky wise-cracking in the face of mortal danger, or his deep, abiding love for Gwen and his steadfast Aunt May. Whenever The Amazing Spider-Man 2's over-abundance of story threatens to overwhelm, its delicate, heartbreaking web of relationships enable it to power on through. There are even some nice grace notes in his interactions with Max, who goes from adoring stalker to unhinged supervillain; and Harry, whose introduction into this particular franchise is oddly abrupt but kinda-works because of the chemistry between Garfield and DeHaan.
Most winning of all is the tender, spiky and very affecting relationship between Peter and Gwen. The first film ended in an oddly downbeat and sour way, with Peter deciding to break his vow to Gwen's dying father to stay away from her. Fortunately, the sequel makes up for that strange lapse in character, allowing Peter to struggle with the morality of being with Gwen. It makes for a fascinating interplay between the two characters, as Peter tries repeatedly to avoid dragging Gwen into his super-charged life, while she insists on getting to make her own decisions and living every day on her own terms. It's nice to see a female character in a superhero film - especially one with no superpowers but her own personality and intelligence - take charge of her own destiny in so firm and unequivocal a way.
In effect, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 really is entirely about the relationship between Peter and Gwen - watching the film makes it far easier to understand the decision to cut Shailene Woodley's Mary Jane Watson (the supposed real love of Peter's life) out of it. Her inclusion in an already overstuffed plot would have greatly distracted from the film's core themes of love, loss, sacrifice and fighting on in the face of devastating heartbreak. It's a good thing that the chemistry between Garfield and Stone is so off-the-charts fantastic - together, they lend the film an emotional depth and resonance, particularly in its spine- tingling and game-changing ending, that its predecessor sorely lacks.
Truth be told, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 isn't a perfect superhero film. Objectively, it's trying to do too many things at once, and many would argue that it doesn't succeed on most counts. But, emotionally, the film works so well and so powerfully that it helps smooth over many of its narrative road-bumps. Add the heart and chemistry of its central relationship to some cracking action sequences and a final scene both enormously manipulative and effective, and this really does mark - finally - the very welcome return of everybody's friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man.