Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse

Hey there, True-Believers! Deadpool here, and I want to talk to you about my latest movie. Or, is it my latest old movie?! Fox, soon to be a subsidiary of Disney, is re-releasing my summer blockbuster, Deadpool 2, for the holidays. But it's no ordinary re-release. All the R-Rated goodness is cut out for PG-13 hijinks and a frame story where I make Fred Savage relive The Princess Bride (RIP William Goldman). This is Once upon a Deadpool and...

It's not the film I'm reviewing, 'pool.

WHAT?!

No. Instead, I am looking at Sony's latest plan to keep the Spider-Man franchise going. Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse is Spidey's first big-screen animated adventure. And he's not the only one. There are multiple Spider-Themed heroes here. The end result is surprisingly and most sincerely a spectacular sensation. Let's read more about it.

You're not reviewing my new, old movie?

Doubt it.

You won't miss much.

....

Anyway...

Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) is a Brooklyn kid, who, much like Peter Parker (Chris Pine) before him, gains superpowers after a weird spider bites him. Spidey, meanwhile, is out to stop mammoth Kingpin Wilson Fisk (Liev Schrieber) from destroying the city with his new supercollider. Spidey meets Miles and promises to train him in the ways of the Spider-Man. Unfortunately, Spidey is soon killed by Fisk.

Miles is traumatized by Spidey's death. He later meets a Peter Parker (Jake Johnson) from another dimension. The supercollider pulled him and four other Spideys into Miles' universe. They are tough girl Gwen Stacey/Spider-Woman (Hailee Steinfeld), monochrome private eye Spider-Man Noir (Nicolas Cage), Animesque Peni Parker (Kimiko Glenn) and her robot SP//dr and Looney Tunish Peter Porker the Spectacular Spider-Ham (John Mulaney). The dimensional displacement threatens to glitch them out of existence. They try to help Miles control his new powers. They'll have to hurry as Fisk plans to start up the supercollider again.

Got all that? 

The film's artistic style is mostly flawless. The backgrounds, visual effects and cinematography are stunning. The characters move with a limited, yet smooth framerate. Peni and Spider-Ham are great CGI realizations of 2D cartoon characters. There are text boxes and word balloons like a comic book. Each frame is even composed of benday dots. When the film imitates the effect of comic artists coloring outside the lines, it looks like a 3D film without glasses. The film's frantic imagery makes some story details fly by the audience. It's probably intentional.

The creative personnel counts Phil Lord and Chris Miller amongst its numbers. It beats up the fourth wall by jabbing at some choice moments in Spidey's history. But it knows when to take things seriously. Miles's doubts and frustrations are understandable. Other Spidey's broken life is simultaneously funny and sad. Their teacher/student dynamic is engrossing. Fisk's top lieutenant The Prowler is a legitimate threat. Fisk's scientist Olivia (Kathryn Hahn) is likable and dangerous. Fisk's motivation for the supercollider mess is a sympathetic one. These aspects help create a captivating showcase for Miles Morales and his ascension to Spider-Man.

What about the other characters? Gwen is an awesome Spider-Woman and her awesomeness makes one wish her mourn for her last screen counterpart. Peni and SP//dr are an endearing pair. Spider-Ham is awesomely funny and Spider-Man Noir is there. Brian Tyree Henry and Luna Lauren Velez are great as Miles's parents, Jefferson and Rio. Mahershala Ali is also a standout as Miles's Uncle Aaron. And there's Lily Tomlin as an awesomely assertive version of Aunt May.

Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse is a great introduction to a multiverse of Spider-Men. Miles Morales is as compelling as Peter Parker. The other Spider-Men are so amazing you'll wish for more. 117 minutes doesn't seem like enough. Sony can have at least part of the franchise if it keeps up this film's creative energy. It deserves to be seen on the big-screen. Whatever size and (maybe) whatever price.

The End Credits memorialize Spidey's recently departed co-creators, Steve Ditko and Stan Lee. Lee has his usual cameo during the movie. It's a solemnly funny moment. The end credit scene gives us one last Spider-Man and a hilarious parody of the 1967 cartoon. See it for yourselves.