Spider-Man (2002)

Starring: Tobey Maguire, Willem Dafoe, Kirsten Dunst
Director: Sam Raimi

Rating: PG-13

Studio: Columbia

Review Posted: 5.3.02

Spoilers: Minor

Rating: 3/4

By Sara M Fetters.

"A Swinging Success"

As success stories go, you can’t get one any more protracted than that surrounding the making of Spider-Man. Maybe the most anticipated film of the year – and that’s saying something what with installments of Star Wars, Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings on tap for 2002 – the initial adventure of everyone’s favorite wall crawler almost didn’t see the light of day.

Now, after a near two decade long battle, with director’s as diverse as James Cameron, Tim Burton and even Steven Spielberg rumored at one point or another to be involved, Sam Raimi’s (A Simple Plan, The Evil Dead) take on Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s Marvel Comics creation has finally hit the big screen. What’s even better is that it’s been worth the wait.

Working from an exuberantly plotted screenplay by David Koepp (Panic Room, Jurassic Park), Raimi has shaped an old fashioned B-movie fun house of a film splashed with a modern sensibility and visual style. Its two-hour running time flies by and as popcorn frolics go, Spider-Man is a nice way to start the summer.

Tobey Maguire is perfectly cast as student Peter Parker – the young man who will become the reluctant superhero. Maguire has proven himself to be one of the best – if not the best – young male actors working in Hollywood today. With a resume filled with little-seen critical darlings (The Ice Storm, Wonder Boys, Ride With the Devil), he was understandably not the actor Columbia Pictures wanted their $130 million investment to ride on. Thank goodness Raimi went with him anyhow for his sly, somewhat mischievous, soulful performance is the glue that holds Spider-Man together.

Bitten by a genetically altered spider while on a class field trip, the heretofore nebbish Parker is bewildered to wake up the next morning with perfect vision and a physique male models would die for. He also discovers a sticky, viscous liquid jetting out of his wrists and black, metallic like hairs growing out of palms. It’s a safe bet puberty wasn’t like this for the other kids in school, and Parker is pretty sure the spider that snacked on him the day before must be to blame.

It is in this wistful first third the Spider-Man works best, as an amused Spidey starts working the kinks out of his newfound abilities. There is real zip to the web-slingers first forays swinging like an over-caffeinatted Tarzan through the concrete jungle of New York. And Parker/Spider-Man’s foray into the wrestling ring to face a giant-sized champion is a real hoot.

That said, there is an awful lot of set-up for the film to be completely enjoyable. You can’t help getting the feeling that Spider-Man is more of an exercise in franchise building than moviemaking. Yet, it never grows wearisome like Harry Potter, Tomb Raider or The Mummy and its sequel did, and much like X-Men it’s consistently engaging.

The actor’s appear to be having a grand time taking part in the comic book madness. Kirsten Dunst (Bring it On) is genuinely appealing as Mary Jane, the girl of Parker’s dreams and consistent object of his savior skills. It is slightly depressing to note, however, that Spider-Man follows so quickly on the heels of the actress’ first  - and spectacular – adult role in The Cat’s Meow, returning her once more to being a well-coifed (and scantily clad) high school student.

Doing more than working for a paycheck, Willem Dafoe (Shadow of a Vampire) actually delves into the psyche of the conflicted Harry Osborn, the Jekyl and Hyde-like scientist who malevolently morphs into the Green Goblin. Even better is J.K. Simmons (television’s Oz) as Spider-Man’s long-time foil J. Jonah Jameson, investing the loud and uncouth editor of the Daily Planet with a sly wit and obnoxious charm.

Raimi slowly builds Spider-Man to a fireball of a climax, the type of moment old B-movie serials used to deliver in spades. It’s a freewheeling caterwaul, a grand onslaught of suspense, action, special effect and cheese. Moments like these are what summer films are all about, and to that end, Spider-Man cannot help but deliver.

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