Film: The Amazing Spiderman 2

GENRE: Action/Adventure

RATING: PG for violence
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 22 minutes

STARRING: Andrew Garfield (The Social Network)

Emma Stone (Easy A, The Help), Jamie Foxx (Django Unchained)

DIRECTOR: Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer)

WRITERS: Jeff Pinkner (Alias, Lost, Fringe)

Alex Kurtzman & Robert Orci (Star Trek, Transformer)

PLOT: Peter’s relationship with Gwen is tested when a number of Oscorp villains arise and cause trouble in New York.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:

1 For an adventure film, there could have been a lot more action sequences. Most of the movie played out like an expensive Smallville episode. Lots of talking and young adult angst, barely any web-slinging.

2 The acting was pretty good though. Stone and Garfield are way more fun to watch than Tobey Maguire and Kirstin Dunst. Newcomer Dane DeHaan (Chronicle) is a great addition; he’s kind of like a young DiCaprio. Also Foxx always brings it, though his character’s motives are a little suspect.

3 Sally Field (Forrest Gump) is perfectly cast as Aunt May. She may not look how I imagine Aunt May to look like, but she sure can make me feel for her.

4 Honestly, this film is giant set up for the next Spiderman installment. The Sinister Six is coming.

5 In the middle of the end credits is a scene from the upcoming X-Men. Huh? I don’t need a random ad for any old Marvel film, either give me more Spiderman or stay off the screen. Who’s dumb idea was that?

RECOMMENDATION: Toss up of theatre or DVD

UPCOMING REVIEWS: X-Men: Days of Future Past