Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is a kaleidoscopic adventure

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse does not compromise or dilute its soul. It leans full-tilt into its zaniness.

For the casual Spider-Man fan, the multitudes of Spider-Men were already a source of great confusion.

Since the turn of the millennium, Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield and Tom Holland have all saved kittens and whole cities while swathed in very tight lycra. Trying to explain the intricacies of why there are so many webslingers to the less invested usually involved a diagram or diorama or both – let alone why they all turned up in the same movie at one point.

Into that already crowded space, the 2018 movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse came along and declared that not only was this yet another Spider-Man, it was a different one. This version is a character named Miles Morales, and at least he has the distinction of being animated.

The multiverse is calling again. Picture: Sony

Of course, Miles isn’t the only Spider-Man in this corner of the lore, one plugged into the multiverse. The first movie introduced audiences to various iterations of Spider-beings from other universes within the story, including Gwen Stacy, Peter B. Parker and even Peter Porker.

And this follow-up, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, boldly throws out any restraint and leans full-tilt into the zaniness of its visually and thematically kaleidoscopic world.

That chutzpah is why the Spider-Verse movies work. They are very much exactly what they’re trying to be – an ambitious and colourful movie with character and story beats that’s grounded in clear emotional arcs, and uncompromising on not making concessions to broaden itself.

And when the writing and the animation is this good, audiences will appreciate the refreshing honesty in not trying to be like everyone else.

The story picks up a year after the 2018 movie. Miles (Shameik Moore) has been doing his thing as the friendly neighbourhood hero but he’s wondering why the other Spider-beings from the multiverse never came back to see or adventure with him.

And he’s still wrestling with the sometimes thorny coming-of-age dynamics he has with his parents Rio (Luna Lauren Velez) and Jefferson (Brian Tyree Henry) while keeping his Spidey alter ego a secret.

The Spot’s superpowers make for some visually cool battles. Picture: Sony

Into that emotionally volatile space enters The Spot (Jason Schwartzman), a scientist turned supervillain whose body is covered by interdimensional portals which make for some creative battles.

The Spot blames Miles for his plight and vows to take down him and everyone he cares about. But his personal vendetta has a much grander consequence if he succeeds – the destruction of all universes.

Gwen Stacy/Spider-Woman (Hailee Steinfeld) and a host of new Spider-beings spring into action and we get to meet some new faces both very cool – Hobie Brown (Daniel Kaluuya), Jessica Drew (Issa Rae) and Pavitr Prabhakar (Karan Soni) – and very menacing, including Miguel O’Hara (Oscar Isaac).

O’Hara is the leader of the Society of Spider-People, a group of teeming Spider-beings tasked with upholding the multiverse, but his stern adherence to “what has to be” will come into conflict with Miles’ heart and instincts.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is in cinemas now. Picture: Sony

When you enter the world of the Society, you’ll be giddy at the cornucopic space where every version of Spider-Man exists. It’s the good kind of onslaught.

This is what Across the Spider-Verse does so well. It does so much but somehow make it easy to follow. Even when it’s doing the geeky expository gobbledygook of multiverses and canon, it’s not overwhelming because it’s so good at giving you the broad strokes instead of losing itself in trying to be too clever.

For a movie that’s pitched at families, that’s important.

And, of course, it just looks so cool. It seamlessly blends different visual animation styles to make distinct worlds from the warm chaos of Spider-Man India’s Mumbattan to the punk edge of Hobie’s universe.

The one thing that could annoy you and you should have a heads-up on is that it’s only part one, and after two hours and 15 minutes, there’s no story resolution. The sequel is due out next year.

But if you’re OK with being teased with a cliffhanger, you’re in for a madcap ride.

Rating: 4/5

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is in cinemas now