“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” - Great expectations.

Five years ago, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse surprised us in theaters, then surprised us again by winning the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Like all great films, it did something new, namely an animation style that looked like it leapt from the pages of a comic book. It also featured characters more fleshed out and nuanced than most films, connecting with us at levels many films don’t even know exist. When the sequel, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, was finally announced, we were rightly concerned that it wouldn’t live up to its predecessor. I’m happy to say I’m surprised again.

Across the Spider-Verse picks up more than a year after Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) and his spider-friends stopped Kingpin from destroying all the universes. In a very good opening twist, we’re greeted not by Miles, but by Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) protecting her city as Spider-Woman. She is struggling to deal with her father, who is unwittingly hunting her because he thinks Spider-Woman killed Peter Parker. During a great action sequence featuring this film’s new approach to its animation (I’ll explain in a minute), we meet new spider-people from alternate universes Miguel O’Hara/Spider-Man 2099 (Oscar Isaac) and Jessica Drew/Spider-Woman (Issa Rae). After defeating an alternate-universe Vulture, Gwen reveals her secret to her father, then leaves her universe with a reluctant Miguel to join the Spider-Society.

The Spider-Society is much like TVA from Loki. It exists in Miguel’s universe and is dedicated to maintaining the stability of the Spider-Verse (aka multi-verse, as some cameos will confirm) by capturing any beings who cross universes and returning them to their own universe. This society is also teeming with spider-people from countless universes who can come and go via bracelets that can spawn portals between universes. There are old friends from Into the Universe, most notably the Peter B. Parker/Spider-Man voiced by Jake Johnson, new friends Hobie/Spider-Punk (Daniel Kaluuya) and Pavitr Prabhakar/Spider-Man India (Karan Soni), and a plethora of easter egg spideys (ex. Scarlet Spider) and gag spideys (ex. Spider-Cat).

After Gwen steps through the portal, we are whisked to Miles’ universe, where he is also struggling to adapt to his new life as a superhero. Like Gwen, he misses his spider-friends. He especially misses Gwen. Also like Gwen, he has an action scene fighting a villain. This villain calls himself the Spot (Jason Schwartzman), is covered with portals (hence the name spot) that he cannot control, and holds a grudge against Miles for accidentally turning him into the Spot while destroying the Kingpin’s supercollider in the previous film. When the Spot inadvertently transports himself into a void, he learns that he can use his portals to traverse universes and make himself stronger. This brings him to the attention of the Spider-Society, who initially sends Gwen to capture him.

The screenplay - written by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (The Lego Movie), with an assist from David Callaham - takes us on a delightfully entertaining journey through several universes but becomes very intriguing when Miguel explains canon events to Miles. In short, a canon event is the death of a loved one that makes Spider-Man/Woman/Pig/Cat the hero that he/she/they/it is. You’re picturing Tobey Maguire crying over the death of his Uncle Ben now, aren’t you? You got it - that’s a canon event. The theme of changing the past or preventing a future is a common one and never stops being interesting because the possible consequences are endless. As the film rolls towards its climax, we witness the consequences of what happens when a canon event is disrupted. And it’s a doozy.

Like Into the Spider-Verse, Across the Spider-Verse devotes ample care to character development and character relationships. The parents of Gwen and Miles aren’t just background noise, they are three-dimensional characters who further our understanding of their kids. Miguel is given a full treatment to show us he isn’t just the leader of the Spider-Society, but a damaged individual dealing with immense trauma. And while the film continues to build Miles’ personality and growth, Gwen is developed to the point where she is every bit the protagonist Miles is. All of these characters are so well-written that we cheer and fear for all of them.

Perhaps the best component of the movie is the animation. In addition to the familiar style from Into the Spider-Verse, Across the Spider-Verse expands on each universe’s unique animation style by adding as many new animation styles as it does new universes. It’s extremely effective at both jarring and wowing the audience by creating an atmosphere that is constantly at odds – and in sync – with itself. The film comes across like a stack of Spidey comics thrown into the air and settling like a finely woven web.

When the film ended, I felt just like I did after watching the first movie - very impressed, very satisfied, and very surprised. I was surprised that it was every bit as good as the first film and even more surprised by the way it ended. As we wait for the trilogy concluding Beyond the Spider-Verse next year, my expectations are that we will be surprised in ways we didn’t even know existed.

Rating: Worth every penny no matter which universe it comes from.

“The Addams Family 2” - Uhhhhhh....naaaaaaah.

When I was a kid, I loved watching reruns of the old Addams Family TV show. They made me laugh and I liked the spooky factor. As an adult, I cannot watch reruns of that show. They are terrible. And not terrible in the way of watching them through a 2021 prism, but objectively bad. And that’s not just my own opinion. The show was cancelled after just two seasons (though they still managed an astounding 64 episodes) because pretty much everyone thought it was bad. Unfortunately, the schlock that people quickly grew tired of was carried into the film remakes in the 1990s, then again in the animated remakes of the last couple years. Watching this latest entry in the franchise with my wife and son reminded me that the jokes just are not funny and that even kids tire quickly of the nonsense. But don’t take my word for it, take my son’s word for it.

How much of the first Addams Family do you remember?

Uhhhhh…..naaaaaah….well, some? I remember that Wednesday started school. In junior high.

Anything else?

Uhhhhh….naaaaaaah.

Is there anything from the first movie that you think you need to know for the sequel?

[Stares straight ahead] Naaaaaah.

What were you hoping to see in the sequel?

Creepier stuff. Like mystery. Like [sing the X-files theme]

After watching Addams Family 2, did it meet your expectations for creepy?

[Giggles. Shakes head]

How would you describe Addams Family 2, if not creepy and mysterious?

Well, it wasn’t like people screamed when they saw them. It seems like they screamed a lot when they saw the family…but only a few people actually screamed.

What was the main plot?

They go on a road trip and they’re trying to avoid having this lawyer trying to get Wednesday back to her original family.

Do you know what a subplot is?

[Shakes head]

Like a minor plot or other stories. Are there any other plots going on?

I don’t think so.

Are there any other Addams family members on the road trip with them?

I don’t know the name….like, the gramma. And she hosts parties for….two weeks? No, three weeks.

Okay so Gramma is not on the road trip, who IS on the road trip?

Everyone else.

Who is everyone else?

Pugsley, Wednesday, Gomez Addams, Tish Addams, lurch, Wednesday…oh, I already said that. Wasn’t there one more?

[holds up 3 fingers]

There’s 3 more?! [facepalm] Oh! It was Uncle Fester! And then I don’t remember his name, the hairy guy.

Cousin It.

Cousin it!

One more.

One more?! Oh! Thing!

So where did the family go on the road trip?

Across America.

Did they visit anywhere spooky?

Sleepy Hollow.

And?

Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, Sleepy Hollow.

What was your favorite part of the road trip?

Well, they went to that guy’s house in California. The guy that tried to steal Wednesday.

But what was your favorite part of the road trip?

When Pugsley blew up the Grand Canyon.

Why was that your favorite part?

Because I like explosions.

Would you say the movie was more funny than anything else?

Uhhhh…naaaaah.

What part of the road trip do you think was the most boring part?

[stares…blinks…]

Let me put it this way, which part did you like the least?

When they went to Sleepy Hollow.

Why?

Because they just talked about….oh! the lion is also there!....They just sat around, telling stories.

If you could take a part out of the movie, what part or thing would it be? That you didn’t think needed to be there?

I feel like they didn’t need to do the Texas - oh! They went to Texas! And saw those motorcycle guys and they were at a bar, and Lurch was there too with Wednesday.

If you could add something to the movie, what would you add?

A few more places that they went.

Name one. Like, where would you make them go?

They could see the Great Lakes.

How would that fit in with the Addams Family?

[snarky and sassy] They went to NIAGARA FALLS, dad.

Is there anything spooky about the Great Lakes?

They’re huge…and with fresh water.

Would you make something be IN the lakes, like something spooky?

[whispers] Uncle Fester.

Why would he be in the lakes?

Because he’s a weird uncle and tries to be funny and….[trails off]

Who is your favorite character?

Pugsley. …NO! No no non onononono LURCH! [sighs]

I can’t think of any more questions.

[Mom from the other side of the room] Because it was a boring-ass movie.

Would you watch it again?

Uhhhh….naaaah.

Rating: If people go to the theater to see it, how much money should they ask for back?

I think they want back 2 dollars. I think the movie could have been a little better. Because there were no mysteries, no really spooky things. No [sings X-Files theme song]