Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Literally a comic book in motion

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

3 / 5

A pair of anecdotes about my theater experience with this film. One: my wife turned to me a few seconds in and asked “wait, this is animated?” I replied, “yes, but it’s the kind of movie that has to be.” She agreed afterward that I was right. Two: several rows behind us, a family had brought their barely-not-toddlers to see the cartoon Spider-Man movie. The movie shot completely over the kids’ heads, and by the end of the 140 minute runtime their attention span was long gone and they were running around giggling in the back of the theater, totally ignoring the screen. This IS an animated feature. It is NOT a cartoon. 

In that, it embraces a concept already familiar in anime circles: animation is a medium, not a genre. Thus, while this is a pretty good movie for a variety of reasons, it is not a kids’ movie. The plot is complex, the characters are complex, and the action is complex, sometimes even unnecessarily so (there’s something that rings clunky about the whole Gwen-and-her-dad conflict, for instance). I give kids a lot of credit for being able to handle more than adults think, and you may have kids who loved Into the Spider-Verse from five years ago now, but that film was a more accessible standalone feature with a straightforward plot arc and clear heroes and villains. There was plenty there for both kids and adults to grab and love. Across the Spider-Verse is like The Empire Strikes Back. For a kid, there’s visual stuff to gawk at, but it’s MUCH slower and moodier than its predecessor. The plot is very adult and (if my own experience is any guide) the movie might not make much sense to the littles. 

With that said, the movie is utterly gorgeous, a visual feast. It leans all the way into the comic-panel style, including editorial-narrator boxes in the corners and quick words like thwip actually appearing onscreen when web shooters go off. The gorgeously complex animation also allows the multiverse angle to really resonate, with different characters from different universes drawn in different styles. It’s a treat to watch, IF you’ve already seen Into the Spider-Verse and understand comics (and especially Spider-Man comics) and what you’re getting into. If you want to see a summertime cartoon romp, this might not be your jam. And a final warning: it IS a part 2 (of 3). I admit I did not know this going in, and was perplexed that it was taking its sweet time telling its story (another factor that lost the kiddos in the back). It spends a lot of time setting up plot points that won’t pay off until the next movie. So this IS the The Empire Strikes Back of this particular Spider-trilogy. Your mileage may vary on that.  

3 stars of 5: There’s a lot to like here and it will not disappoint fans, but it’s not sufficiently standalone to support its own weight.