Andrew Garfield
Emma Stone
Jamie Foxx
Dane DeHaan
Campbell Scott
Embeth Davidtz
Colm Feore
Paul Giamatti
Sally Field

Alex Kurtzman
Roberto Orci
Jeff Pinkner

142 mins.
Action, Adventure, Fantasy
May 2, 2014

Rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action/violence. (MPAA)

“The Amazing Spider-Man 2” is largely disappointing; it’s not as good as the first film in the “Spider-Man” reboot film series. A lot of the dialogue seems uninspired and lethargic. Where’s all of the humor and spirit from the first film? There is some humor, but it’s drowned-out by too many stale moments. The banter between Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy should have the energy of the original “The Karate Kid” or “The Spectacular Now” (or even director Mark Webb’s own “(500) Days of Summer”).

Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone are very appealing actors, but they shouldn’t have to shoulder the whole burden of making this film sparkle. Their moments together, bafflingly, stall the film and don’t advance the story. Those moments are predictable, dull, and too frequent. What were the writers thinking? Did they run out of ideas?

Another problem is that there isn’t that much action; I was surprised by this. There are two major fight sequences in an almost 2 1/2-hour (really?) film. (There are a couple of minor fight scenes, but they don’t really count.) What’s the point of 3D if you’re barely going to use it to its full potential? And this is about Spider-Man, a character seemingly created for the 3D space.

Once we get to the two major fight sequences, the 3D technology is used well, especially when we’re given a slow-motion panoramic view of Spider-Man’s hyper vision (one of the Spidey senses). I just wanted some pace and a few magical moments, as well: Is that too much to ask? Marvel’s self-produced films always (with the exception of “Iron Man”) seem to lack the extra edge necessary to fully satisfy. Where’s the artistry, the solid writing, and the brisk pacing? These films need to soar.

At the beginning of this film, I thought that there was a pulse. Peter’s parents’ backstory was compelling; it was a great way to start. But that story line didn’t get enough screen time, and its immediacy was unfortunately lost after that beginning.

Jamie Foxx’s Electro also didn’t get enough screen time. Foxx plays a villain that’s the quintessential example of over-the-top, completely ridiculous comic book villains. He goes all the way as a nerd, both in appearance and personality, before his change into a villain. At least there’s something to pay attention to when he’s onscreen.

The story line with Harry Osborne is old-hat; been there, done that. I knew exactly what the conclusion of that story line was going to be, early on. I did get a kick out of seeing Paul Giamatti have a bit of fun in an unexpected role, though.

“The Amazing Spider-Man 2” is OK, and the action moments, when they finally happen, are satisfying; but there’s too much unnecessary filler and not enough punch.

Verdict: OK to Somewhat Good

About: (Source: amazingspiderman2)

We’ve always known that Spider-Man’s most important battle has been within himself: the struggle between the ordinary obligations of Peter Parker and the extraordinary responsibilities of Spider-Man. But in The Amazing Spider-Man 2™, Peter Parker finds that a greater conflict lies ahead.

It’s great to be Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield). For Peter Parker, there’s no feeling quite like swinging between skyscrapers, embracing being the hero, and spending time with Gwen (Emma Stone). But being Spider-Man comes at a price: only Spider-Man can protect his fellow New Yorkers from the formidable villains that threaten the city. With the emergence of Electro (Jamie Foxx), Peter must confront a foe far more powerful than he. And as his old friend, Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), returns, Peter comes to realize that all of his enemies have one thing in common: OsCorp.