“Don’t you know? I’m Electro.” —Max Dillon
Today’s quick review: The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Haunted by the risks of his life as a superhero, Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) contemplates breaking up with Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) to keep her safe. As the two try to make sense of their relationship, Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), Peter’s childhood friend, inherits his father’s corporate empire, and Max Dillon (Jamie Foxx), a lonely Oscorp engineer, gains electric powers in a freak accident.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is a superhero action movie that picks up several months after the events of The Amazing Spider-Man. The sequel builds on the foundation laid by the original, ramping up Peter’s activities as Spider-Man, playing out his relationship with Gwen, and digging deeper into his father’s past with Oscorp. Colorful action, a packed story, and a strong cast make the film a worthy sequel for fans of the original.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 fully embraces the superhero genre. Where the previous film was grounded and visually moody, carefully building up to the status quo, the sequel dives in with no hesitation. Bright visuals, joyful web-swinging, and even more creative uses of Peter’s powers all contribute to a world that combines the rich backdrop of live-action with the energy of a cartoon.
As far as story goes, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 continues in the same vein as the first film. Peter and Gwen are front and center again, giving Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone the chance to show off more of their chemistry. The plot delves into the secrets of Oscorp, including the project that Peter’s father worked on and the ones Harry’s father kept quiet. The plot wanders a little but generally does a good job of tying together its different threads.
Still, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 has some quirks. Its villains—Electro and an increasingly unstable Harry Osborn—are offbeat, exaggerated characters. The light tone of the movie is at odds with the collateral damage of the action. The story plays fast and loose with comics continuity, staying true to the themes while rearranging a lot of the specifics. And, like before, anyone who dislikes Peter or Gwen will find their enjoyment crippled.
How much you get out of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 will depend on your taste in superhero films. Fans of the bright, exuberant side of the genre will find it to be a breath of fresh air, even if it does have its share of drama. Fans of the more grounded side of the genre may get stuck on some minor plot holes and odd character choices. Give it a shot if you enjoyed the original, and approach with caution otherwise.
For an animated Spider-Man movie that takes its comic book influences even farther, try Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. For a Spider-Man movie that attempts to juggle even more plot threads, try Spider-Man 3.
[6.6 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1872181/). I give it an 8.0 for bright, creative action and a larger-than-life story; your score will vary.