Spider-Man 2-A Profoundly Human Superhero Sequel

Some of the best superhero films cut to the core of their characters, choosing to focus on the human side of their superpowered characters. Spider-Man 2 is one of those films. While a film brimming with brilliant set pieces and moments of heroics, it spends most of its runtime focused on the profoundly human character drama surrounding Peter Parker rather than Spider-Man. It focuses on his relationship issues and struggles to balance his superhero life with his adult life and career. 

Peter's interactions can be funny, be it with Mr. Aziz at the beginning of the film, with Mr. Ditkovitch, or with J. Jonah Jameson. However, the film truly shines in Peter's interactions with Aunt May, Harry, and Mary Jane. The film doesn't portray these scenes as some over-the-top melodrama but, even more so than in its predecessor, as the interactions of genuine, authentic people. 

The story and character conflict show the film's deep understanding of what makes Spider-Man such a captivating character. Even with the cool Spider-powers, the best trait of Peter Parker/Spider-Man is that he's a character who helps people because it must be done, no matter the sacrifices he has to make to do so. By the end, the film shows how Peter and the characters around him choose to compromise with those sacrifices in a profoundly moving way. 

Sam Rami's direction takes the best aspects of his direction from the last movie and shows it in complete form. The whip-pans, quick zooms, close-ups through objects, all of Sam Rami's visual trademarks are here, and he uses them to recreate the look of a comic book in a way that feels so visually dynamic. But despite the film making great use of Rami's trademark flashy style, Rami also shows his immense talent for directing character drama in the scenes with Peter. There are plenty of goofy scenes involving Peter, which Rami captures with fun whip-pans and pitch-perfect comedic editing. But, when the film slows down to focus on the character drama, Rami focuses on still close-ups that capture the immense emotion of the actors, making these scenes as emotionally moving as they are. 

Spider-Man 2 is as perfect a superhero film as you can get. It amplifies everything from the first film, from Sam Rami's dynamic direction to the lived-in New York setting to especially the fantastic blend of a goofy comic book tone with genuine character drama. But more than anything, the film cuts to the core of the character and motivations of Spider-Man, making for a movie that's as much a profound portrait of the character as it is a highly entertaining blockbuster. In the increasing cynicism of modern superhero films and the constant need to turn these types of movies into mindless spectacles, it's rare to see a superhero film this emotionally honest that also focuses just as much on the profoundly human nature of its characters as it does on the action spectacle throughout.

Seen on a 35mm film print. Now Streaming on Disney+ and Peacock in the U.S