The Mosley Review: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Right now in the animation world, there is a lack of heavy themes. Outside of the Pixar mold, even if they've been overly exposed in my opinion, there hasn't been an animated film that delves into the character's thought processes, motivations and or even the very complicated decisions that life throws at your feet everyday. I have missed that type of storytelling in animated films and its about time somebody brought it back to life. The first film in this animated Spider-Verse series was groundbreaking in taking the standard coming of age thematic elements and aging it up with the amount existential questioning and sometimes adult approach. Its what made that film stand out among the rest of the superhero genre. This film continues that excellence in storytelling and takes it to another level for many of the characters. The exploration into the character and idea of a hero is explored to another level and in a way that I haven't seen handled with such care since maybe the Nolan era of the Batman films. The persona of Spider-Man and all the responsibility and sacrifices that comes with it is on display and makes you understand the weight of every decision he, Spider-Gwen and all the other iterations make. The spectacle is even more spectacular in execution and this film elevates what is possible in animation with its unique flare and influences from many other cultures. It may feel a bit crowded at times with the introduction of the Spider Society, but the amazing cast keeps you focused on the main objective of the story.
Hailee Steinfeld returns as Gwen Stacy / Spider-Woman / Spider-Gwen and she takes the character to new depths. We get to see her heartbreaking backstory that sets the tone of the entire film. I loved her interactions with her dad, George Stacy, portrayed wonderfully by Shea Whigham. The chemistry between them was amazing, heart shattering and beautiful in so many ways. Her story adds a new perspective and is a cautionary tale about secrets and possibly betraying the trust of those you care about. Shameik Moore returns as Miles Morales / Spider-Man and I loved how he has grown into his own. I loved the fact that he leans more into his Latino side of his heritage and his strong connection to his family. The many levels of balancing a superhero life, a regular life and how it affects his relationships with his parent are at the heart of his story. The chemistry with his parents portrayed once again by Bryan Tyree Henry and Luna Lauren Vélez as Jefferson and Rio Morales was electric. The stress and emotional turmoil between them was well done and didn't stray into the standard cheese you see in most films. Their scenes together whether it was Miles and Jefferson or Miles and Rio, were truly the heart and soul of the character and the film. The chemistry between Gwen and Miles has never been stronger and more strained in the best ways possible. Their friendship is tested to heightened level and it makes for a great dramatic beat that most films ignore or handle poorly. We get introduced to some new Spider people and I loved every one of them. Karan Soni was fun and charming as Pavitr Prabhakar / Spider-Man India and I loved the visuals of his world. He was hilarious with his quips and in a short amount of time, you get to see the heart of the character. Daniel Kaluuya was awesome and perfectly rebellious as Hobart "Hobie" Brown / Spider-Punk. I audibly cheered seeing him on screen because I've loved his attitude and anti establishment motivations nature. He represented a new lesson and belief structure that Miles needed in his life. Issa Rae was great as Jessica Drew / Spider-Woman and I loved that even though she is pregnant, she doesn't shy away from the action and her commanding presence is always felt. Jason Schwartzman was excellent as the new antagonist of the film Dr. Jonathan Ohnn / The Spot. A great villain always has a personal connection to the main character and he does in a familiar, but fun way. He begins as a villain of the week type, but his progression into the main threat was done in a fresh and fascinating way. Oscar Issac returns as the fan favorite Miguel O'Hara / Spider-Man 2099 and I loved the direct yet ominous nature of the character. He was inventive and intense in a way that made you question if he is actually a hero or villain. Oscar's portrayal of the characters’ determination to complete his goal was excellent and made for a fascinating character study.
Composer Daniel Pemberton returns and continues to deliver fantastic work that picks up from the first film with familiar and new themes for Gwen Stacy and one that is as chaotic and energetic for Spider-Punk. The modern hip hop infusion with the traditional, emotional and thrilling score was awesome. I loved the darker nature of the score this time and inclusion of many different distortions when dealing with The Spot. The Indian influence and sound was wonderful when we get to Pavitr’s universe. Visually the film continues to dazzle with the same comic book touch the first film had, but evolves it even more. The color palette with Miles is set and established, but the real magic comes from the beautiful water coloring of Gwen's world and how it evokes the vast layers of the emotional spectrum. This film is filled with so many great action set pieces that don't feel exhausting at all. There's so much to take in as you witness the many achievements in animation at work. This was definitely one of the best sequels I've seen in a long time and an excellent new chapter in the Spider-Verse that will definitely be on many best of lists. This is a must see by all Spider fans and there are so many Easter eggs, cameos and its all wrapped in this brilliant story that leaves on an awesome cliffhanger. Let me know what you thought of the film or my review in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
