Spider-Man’s promise exists in conflict with normalcy

Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Sony Pictures presents a Sam Raimi film, starring Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst. Written by Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, Michael Chabon and Alvin Sargent. 127m. Rated PG-13 for stylized action violence.

2.5 stars

While the most popular comic book titles have often relied on grandiose escapist adventures, “Spiderman” seems to play by a different set of rules.

When he’s not gallivanting around New York City from one sticky string to another, Spiderman is a considerably downtrodden individual named Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire). Parker has neither the rich playboy lifestyle of a Bruce Wayne, the lucrative doctor position of Bruce Banner or even the steady paycheck of journalist Clark Kent.

In “Spider-Man 2,” he’s a messenger boy - delivering pizzas instead of correspondences for one of those places that promises your package in 29 minutes or less. But as you can imagine, steady employment in a city rank with the criminal element is troublesome for the young go-getter.

Parker has picked the wrong occupation, it seems, because the one thing he’s terrible at is keeping promises. He’s already cast aside long-time love Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst), dissembling his true feelings behind a hand-sewn Spidey-suit in an effort to protect her from danger. Peter has also felt a scission in his friendship with Harry (James Franco), the enfant terrible son of first film foe Norman Osborn (Willem Dafoe, who cameos in this installment).

Comic books are notorious for painting their bad guys in blacks and their good guys in whites, but in “Spider-Man 2,” the audience is privy to the inner turmoil of Parker’s acceptance of his alter ego. It was Uncle Ben (Cliff Robertson) who told Peter in the first film, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Can Spider-Man turn his back on the crime festering out every darkened hovel of the Big Apple?

Before thoughtful debate can truly spawn in the mind of Peter Parker, this film cuts to its gravy train - a powerful, destructive, computer-enhanced bad guy, Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina). Octavius is a doppelganger for Parker: a brilliant mind fascinated by the realms of science with more than a hint of pride.

In fact - just as the “X-Men” series has done so brilliantly - Octavius is primarily not an evil force. Instead, he’s let scientific progress overrun his inhibitions, which results in a fusion experiment gone horribly wrong. Now laden with four menacing metal tentacles and stripped of his equanimity, “Doc Ock” is hell-bent on seeing his life’s work completed - a snoozer premise for an A-plot.

Even though Sony invested a reported $54 million for effects shots alone, the glossy, overproduced look will snap any theatergoer out of its Spidey-trance. The film encounters similar problems in major duels between the two opposing forces. It’s hard to feel emotionally attached to a computer-created object. Thus, when Spider-Man and Dr. Octavius fight atop the 9th Street El, one can feel little danger coming for either of these amalgamations of digital technology.

The film’s true promise lies in its B-plot, which was largely cribbed from an early episode of “The Amazing Spider-Man” comic. It has Parker quitting his calling for an alternative life - where he’s a dependable and trusted friend to both Mary Jane and Harry.

“Spider-Man 2” also carries on the tradition established in the first installment for slapstick breaks with fast-talking Bugle editor J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons). Jameson is a no-nonsense penny-pincher whose disdain for Spider-Man is entirely created out of his intuition for selling the most papers. Jameson is played masterfully by Simmons, whose seems to often fluctuate seamlessly between the serious and the humorous when choosing movies.

“Spider-Man 2” is no doubt good popcorn-ready entertainment and a welcome addition to the slowly enveloping summer movie lineup. It’s made for the big-screen and doesn’t have the carryover power for repeat viewings. See “Spider-Man 2” now because the experience will likely be one of diminishing returns when seen in your home theater.