Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
2023
*****
Director: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson
Cast: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Brian Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Vélez, Jake Johnson, Jason Schwartzman, Issa Rae, Karan Soni, Shea Whigham, Greta Lee, Daniel Kaluuya, Mahershala Ali, Oscar Isaac
Although Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) delivered a highly entertaining multiverse adventure with different incarnations of live-action Spider-Man and his nemeses, the animated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) took the concept even further. The first of the planned sequels builds on this and maintains the high quality level. While Miles Morales cannot decide whether to reveal his secret to his parents, Gwen Stacy flees her own universe and joins the Spider-Society, who are tasked to protect the integrity of the multiverse. The first half includes some very strong character building, whereas the plot really only kicks in during the second hour. Even if the action scenes are often incomprehensibly fast, this in an incredibly rich, original, and surprising franchise in terms of storytelling and animation techniques. Daniel Pemberton's terrific soundtrack is an icing on the cake.
