The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Fans may recall that the last Spider-Man series didn’t end so well, with the final entry taking on so much that it collapsed under its own weight. The second entry in the Amazing Spider-Man saga likewise packs in a few too many things for its own good. The final result is still much more watchable than that aforementioned franchise killer, but it never quite coalesces into a solid whole. It’s more like pieces of several different narratives stitched together haphazardly.

This problem doesn’t stem from the film’s obvious priming for the upcoming Sinister Six movie, surprisingly. The stuff that’s clearly and directly setting up further entries in the franchise is limited to a few fleeting references and Easter Eggs, and one short sequence that plays much like a typical post-credits scene. Except it’s edited into the film proper, but in a way that doesn’t disrupt the flow of everything else. Or rather, what flow it does have, because it’s everything else that’s so inconsistent.

In the film, Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) has taken pretty well to being Spider-Man. But not so much to being Peter Parker, as he’s afraid to love Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) because he doesn’t want to risk putting her in danger. Further complicating their relationship is that fact that she’s moving away for school. Peter’s also still looking into why his parents (Campbell Scott and Embeth Davidtz) abandoned him as a child. And on top of everything, two new figures come into the mix: engineer-turned-electric leviathan Electro (Jamie Foxx), and Peter’s friend and Oscorp heir Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan).

As the plot moves from thread to thread, the tone shifts quite jarringly. As Spider-Man, Garfield is having a ball, cockily taking down crooks and showing off like he’s actually enjoying being a superhero, instead of being so righteous and serious. But out of costume, with Stone, the mood turns sad as the two are distraught at their relationship not working. Then in their next scene together, their relationship will suddenly be going great, and the tone turns happy again. Then, when Peter’s alone and looking into his parents’ past, he becomes sullen and determined. None of these plot points segue from one to the other smoothly at all, and the tonal inconsistency is bothersome. The villains aren’t exactly worked in so seamlessly, either. Peter and Harry are apparently old friends, though the film introduces them as such without any explanation. True, anyone even slightly knowledgeable of the comics can surmise that going in, but it’s still a sloppy bit of plotting. And Electro only seems to be swept up in the action because they needed another villain, because he doesn't play much of a role except battling the title hero.

But, even though all these pieces don’t really gel, by themselves they are mostly well done. The only arc that truly doesn’t work is Foxx’s; the socially inept, obsessed fanboy act does little to establish any depth, and only manages a few easy laughs. But when he becomes Electro, it makes for some good fights and special effects. As for DeHaan, despite sporting the worst haircut ever to curse the head of a supervillain, he gives us a tortured, desperate, almost sympathetic Harry Osborn. His plunge into evil is much more plausible and compelling than the incarnation in the previous series.

The best part isn’t the superhero action or character mythology, however, but the romance between Garfield and Stone. The two have a powerful chemistry, sweet, funny, and real. Never once does it feel forced and obvious like the average blockbuster’s romantic subplot. And as for that giant plot turn fans knew would be coming sooner or later (spoilers here), the film caries it out with solemnity and respect. Maybe not with the epic grandeur you’d expect from such a major event in comic book history, but the emotion is there.

So, while it may not be the new series' Dark Knight moment, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 has plenty to enjoy. Except for...well, if you're a fan of Spider-Man, you know.