Film Review: Spiderman: Into The Spider-Verse

Miles Morales (voice-Shameik More) is your typical teenager. He's reluctant to do his homework. His parents embarrass him and he has lots of friends in his Brooklyn neighbourhood. He's attending an upscale academy via a lottery where he's having a hard time fitting in. His best pal is his Uncle Aaron (voice- Mareshala Ali) who doesn't mind fracturing a few laws to the chargrin of his police officer bother, Miles Dad (voice- Brian Tyree Henry). The pair spay paid graffiti art in the back corners and underbelly of the city. It's on one of these outings where Miles is bitten by a radioactive spider gaining his powers. On another level Kingpin/Wilson Fisk (voice-Liv Schreiber) is determined to find a version of earth where his wife and son are alive and bring them to him.  Doc Ock (voice-Kathryn Hahn) builds the supercollider Kingpin backs the project and Miles stumbles onto the test where the one and only Spider-Man (voice-Chris Pine) who is quite the celebrity having 10 years on the job battles the Green Goblin as he tries to stop the device from firing. It does, melding universes together sucking in 4 other versions to this timeline. However, the machine goes offline and this timelines Spider-Man is killed in the battle.

Directors Bob Perischetti, Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rothman, watched by the brains behind the Lego Movie Phil Lord and Chris Miller bring a fresh take to a story that's been told for decades with origin stories serving as a running gag. What would happen if that spider bit someone else, or someone in a different universe? What would be the spark that made them take that leap of faith, how would there costume reflect their experiences and personality? The production also uses a version of animation where the edge of frame characters appear to be in soft focus 3D in addition to the brush work being sharped edged representing the jaggedness of a comic book.

Peter B. Parker (voice-Jake Johnson) is the version of Spider-Man most recognizable to the audience.  He's older than the one from Miles' world, has dark hair but is written more like Deadpool than Peter Parker.  Spider Gwen /Gwen Stacey (voice-Hailee Steinfeld) was bitten in her world she's about Miles age and the person she could not save in her timeline was her best friend Peter Parker.  Her suit is black and white, she dons ballerina shoes and plays drums in a band back home. The most interesting take on the hero belongs to the Nicholas Cage voiced monochrome Sam Spade channeling version that's a cross between Watchmen's Rorschach and Sin City's Hartigan. In his world, Spider-Man is active in the '30s and works as a private detective.  Rounding out the crew are Peter Porker ala Porky the Pig (voice- John Mulaney) who comes from a looney tunesih version of the multiverse and anime inspired Peni Parker (voice- Kimiko Glenn) who co-pilots a Robot with the spider powered off her father's sole plucked back from the future by Doc Ock's device.

The Universal themes of the character come through in the piece. Anyone can wear the mask and be a hero in their own right. If you make a promise you keep it and the signature with great power comes great responsibility. Look for Lily Tomlin voicing Aunt May who in this version is more Batman butler Alfred than Peter's sweet Aunt. Lastly, the film contains what might be Stan's Lee's final cameo in a Marvel film. It's a touching sequence where he interacts with the newest hero in the Marvel Universe imparting some sage advise that is helpful to all.

*** 1/2 Out of 4.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse | Bob Persihetti / Peter Ramsey/ Rodney Rothman | U.S.A. | 2018 | 117 Minutes.

Tags: Marvel Comics, Animation, Spider-Man, New York, Brooklyn, Parallel Universe, Multiverse, Super Hero, Graffiti, Tagging, Air Jordans, Stan Lee.