Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Scott Hardie: “It ruled.”

This is just as lively and impressively animated as its predecessor, though the novelty has worn off a bit. There are subtle pleasures, like the implication that one character is transgender (pay attention to who's always framed in white, pink, and light blue, and what that character says in a speech to their parent), but the clever, meta questions raised by the plot are perhaps the best part. The characters debate* the existence of free will and whether they can change their destiny, which means something entirely different for fictional characters than it does for us. I enjoyed the quips, the fluid action made possible by animation, and the terrific final plot twist that I loved as soon as I realized what had happened.

*By debate, I mean mostly punch each other about. This is still a summer popcorn movie.This review contains spoilers. Reveal it.

− July 18, 2023 • more by Scott • log in or register to reply