Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy return in a spectacular coming of age adventure that will have your Spider-Sense tingling. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is the rare sequel that improves on the Oscar-winning original in every aspect. Our valiant heroes find web-slinging fellowship but learn that problems on the home front aren't easily left behind. A dazzling mix of CGI and 2D animation accompany a rocking soundtrack and heartfelt script with great humor. The film does run long but covers a lot of ground creatively.
Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) pounds her drum set in anger and frustration. She's got problems that her bandmates could never understand. Captain George Stacy (Shea Whigham) is hellbent on capturing the murderous Spider-Woman. He'd be devastated to learn her secret identity. How can she tell him the truth? Gwen misses the one person who truly understands. Her problems are interrupted by a strange villain from another universe.
In his reality, Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) can't stop thinking about Gwen. She'd be impressed by his awesome new suit and enhanced crime-fighting skills. A lot has changed in the past year. Spider-Man has made Brooklyn a better place, but juggling bad guys and going to school isn't easy. He's already late to a parent-teacher conference when duty calls.
An Unexpected Visitor
The Spot (Jason Schwartzman) seethes with fury. Spider-Man ruined his life and must pay for his transgressions. He's even more infuriated when Spider-Man mocks his portal powers. Meanwhile, Rio (Luna Lauren Vélez) and Jefferson (Brian Tyree Henry) anxiously wait in the counselor's office for their son. Where could Miles possibly be? Spider-Man's tussle with the aggrieved Spot gets an unexpected visitor. Miles is overjoyed to see Gwen. How did she travel to his universe? Gwen feels the same but can't tell Miles about her true mission.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse spreads the narrative wealth. Gwen and Miles have the same concerns from different points of view. They're both lonely and seek belonging for a higher cause, but have radically different home lives. Gwen's broken relationship with her father wounds deeply. Miles has loving and supportive parents. They've given everything to see him succeed and are genuinely disappointed by his distant behavior. Miles knows that his secret keeps them safe from deadly enemies. He and Gwen have no illusions about the risks. There's solace to be found in each other. But the connection between Gwen and Spider-Man always seems to end in tragedy.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse pushes the boundaries of animated artistry. The characters interact against dynamic backgrounds. The color palette changes as moods brighten or sour. There are also comic bubbles that pop up in frame to expand key details. This is brilliantly done with comedic effect. A scene with Gwen and Miles sitting upside down under a building ledge is breathtaking. Every inch of the screen radiates with vibrant energy.
A Focus on Diversity
There's a clear focus on diversity and promoting multiculturalism. Miles' Puerto Rican heritage permeates throughout. He's an urban teen who speaks Spanish and chows down on tasty plantains. The ensemble Spider-Society includes the Indian Pavitr Prabhakar (Karan Soni), the pregnant, Afro wearing Jessica Drew (Issa Rae), and the futuristic Miguel O'Hara (Oscar Isaac) to name just a few. This approach may bother some but it shouldn't. Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man reflects all walks of life.
Avoid spoilers. There are quite a few surprises here. It's worth the price for a premium theater experience. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is wondrous to behold. Stick around for a mid-credits scene.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is a production of Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, and Marvel Entertainment. It will have a June 2nd theatrical release from Sony Pictures.