The Amazing Spider-Man 2 *** (2014, Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Dane DeHaan, Paul Giamatti, Sally Field) – Movie Review

Andrew Garfield returns in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) as Peter Parker, who starts off late for his high-school graduation, with a good excuse about checking up on some stolen plutonium. But he’s just in time to hear his girlfriend Gwen (Emma Stone)’s little life-affirming graduation speech, setting him off questioning his villain-fighting role in the world as Spider-Man.

He thinks maybe he’d be happier as just an ordinary teenage boy living with his nice Aunt May (Sally Field) and spending time with Gwen. But that wouldn’t make much of a superhero blockbuster, would it? It would just be a plotless soap opera.

So then along comes a friendly recluse called Max Dillon (Jamie Foxx), who turns himself into the scary Electro, an awesomely powerful foe. And, just as bad, his old school friend, Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), returns into his life, a spoilt, rich sick kid who needs Peter’s blood to survive. When Peter politely declines, Harry does what a spoilt, rich sick kid must do, and turns himself into Green Goblin.

Somehow at the base of it all, Peter eventually figures out, his enemies and all of his villain-fighting problems track back to the mysterious company Oscorp.

Exceptionally well cast, DeHaan and Foxx dominate the movie, both fired up and terrifically watchable. A pleasant presence, if understandably a bit pleased with himself, Garfield goes for some effective and amusing dorky comedy, trying to find the troubled little boy inside the villain-vanquishing superhero. This is the bit when acting’s required. When he’s in the Spidey suit, of course, it could be anybody, Garfield or his stunt double, we’ve no idea. Stone is appealingly winning again as the feisty Gwen Stacy.

As expected, as demanded, it’s a lovely, costly-looking production. The acrobatic visual effects are seamlessly brilliant, the sets are striking and Hans Zimmer’s electronic score an astounding era-basher. Building on the $750 million money-spinning 2012 reboot, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 will no doubt please all its zillions of fans.

Somehow, though, there are some unreconciled problems this time. The movie gives great value and has lots of brilliant skyscraper-swinging action through Manhattan, but it feels too long at 142 minutes and has too little plot and too few characters.

The exciting action blockbuster seems to work in a parallel universe to the cosy downhome soap opera of the Parker family’s life, and they are uncomfortable bedfellows. The little bits of soap opera comedy are fun, but how many times in one movie do we want to see a superhero crying?

With a lack of story, the movie is a series of action set pieces, all dazzling in themselves, though they become increasing samey and repetitive over the 142 minutes. Zimmer’s score is over-used and over-loud, nervously, in case we might start dozing off. As if!

Some people will still miss Tobey Maguire and co from the first trilogy and those who recall Spider-Man (2002) and Spider-Man 2 (2004) will remember this is essentially the same story of course. This makes Spidey a bit samey, lacking the incredible power of the Iron Man/ The Avengers/ Captain America/ Thor sequence. And the original Spider-Man 2 (2004) remains the best in the series, with Doctor Octopus still the best villain.

The film gleefully sets up another sequel at the end, with Paul Giamatti’s Transformer-like Rhino villain character.

Based on the comic book by Stan Lee, who happily puts in an iconic appearance as usual. He’s 92 on December 28 2014.

On June 23 2015, Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios announced they have cast British actor Tom Holland as the new Spider-Man in a new reboot. The 19-year-old, who acted in The Impossible (2012) and How I Live Now (2013), will take over from Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker for release in cinemas in IMAX and 3D on July 28 2017. Holland will first appear in Captain America: Civil War to introduce him into the Marvel film universe.

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© Derek Winnert 2014 Movie Review

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