Testa's Takes: 'Spiderman 3'

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

By Matthew Testa

‘Spiderman 3’
Directed by: Sam Raimi
With: Tobey Maguire (Peter Parker/Spider-Man), Kirsten Dunst (Mary Jane Watson), James Franco (Harry Osborn), Thomas Haden Church (Flint Marko/Sandman), Topher Grace (Eddie Brock/Venom)
Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action, violence.

In Sam Raimi’s third installment of the uber-successful Spiderman franchise, Peter Parker’s (Tobey Maguire) dark side is revealed, thanks to an insidious black sludge that descends from space and attaches itself to the boy hero.

The evil slime, an alien parasite that enhances people’s naughty side, adheres to Parker like superglue. In one scene, which you’ve probably watched in the ubiquitous trailer, Parker tries desperately to peel the gunk away.

Which is exactly how some parts of this movie will make you feel: as though an evil alien substance has suctioned onto you and you want more than anything to wipe it off and send it back to outer space.

As a lifelong Spidey fan and an admirer of the first two movies, I wanted very much to like “Spiderman 3.” With the creative forces behind it – a stellar comic book legacy, Raimi’s previously sound direction, fantastic effects and an outstanding cast – there’s no reason why this sequel should not reach the heights of its predecessors.

Speculation abounds, but many have pointed to the change in writers as the likely trouble spot. This time around, Raimi co-writes with his brother Ivan and veteran scribe Alvin Sargent. Raimi’s vision on the first two wall-crawler films served the material well. Those movies were careful not to edge out character or humor with indulgent effects or action sequences. You felt real people behind the comic book personae on screen.

This time Raimi seems to have reverted to his trademark bizarro style of slapstick violence and unexpected absurdity. This style was his claim to fame in the “Evil Dead” films, but it’s misapplied here to the extent that some scenes just beg to be put out of their misery.

Now accepting of his powers and his role as superhero, Peter Parker is reveling in Spiderman’s popularity in New York City. It’s not inconceivable that this newfound fame would go to the head of even the humble and geeky Peter. When his girlfriend, MJ (Kirsten Dunst), hits some bumps in her acting career, the webhead is too self-absorbed to notice.

Okay, not a bad setup. But when Peter gets slimed by the extraterrestrial sludge and has his ego multiplied, the movie comes unhinged, finding bizarre ways to demonstrate the webslinger’s new cockiness.

Apparently dressing like a bouncer and styling your hair in the fashion of a kid at a Cure concert circa 1988 makes you an instant lady killer.

But wait, there’s more. This movie features not one, but TWO awkward dance routines. On top of that, in contrast to the previous Spiderman films, most characters in “3” feel hollow, their actions unmotivated. Kirsten Dunst and James Franco do their best with what they have to work with, but seem hobbled.

Thomas Haden Church and Topher Grace are welcome additions, but, as part of the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink three-ring circus of a story proffered here, their work is sadly marginalized.

Financially, “Spiderman 3” has been a tremendous hit. Let’s hope this doesn’t discourage the makers from changing course. To paraphrase basketball legend Charles Barkley on ESPN last week: “Spiderman 3 is the number one movie in America. What are people thinking?”
PERMALINK:
Testa's Takes: 'Spiderman 3' | Planet JH News Article: Movie Reviews

Leave a Comment