This week Tag Team Movie Reviewers Nicholas Angelo and Amy Baker give you the scoop on the next movie in the LIFE UMC “At the Movies” series. You can watch “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” rated PG, starring the voice talent of Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Lily Tomlin, Zoe Kravitz, John Mulaney, Nicolas Cage, Liev Schreiber, Chris Pine and many more at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16, at the church. Admission is free and open to the public. There will be popcorn!
AMY: I have to be honest here, Nicholas. I haven’t seen a Spider-Man movie since he was played by Tobey McGuire. You’re going to have to lead us through this action-packed animated adventure. Wonder Woman is my favorite superhero.
NICHOLAS: I don’t have a favorite superhero. I do like Spider-Man but don’t consider myself an expert. The really dedicated Spider-Man fans call McGuire the nerdy Spider-Man. The next one was Andrew Garfield, and he probably wasn’t the best one. Then came Tom Holland, who I think is the best so far. He has been in “Spider-Man: Homecoming” and “Spider-Man: Far from Home,” as well as “Captain America: Civil War.” He is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
AMY: How does “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” compare to the other Spidey flicks?
NICHOLAS: It’s actually way different. It’s like a cartoonish version of the movies. There is a completely different kid named Miles Morales, voiced by Shameik Moore, who becomes “Spider-Man.” He accidentally sees the real webbed wonder get killed and then is bitten by a radioactive spider himself. Two villains, Kingpin and Doc Oc, create a weapon that brings other versions of “Spider-Man” from different dimensions to Miles’ dimension and they unite to set everything right.
AMY: I’m a fan of the show “New Girl,” so I liked that Jake Johnson voices the divorced, slightly out-of-shape Spider-Man. Then there’s Spider-Gwen and Peni Parker, two Spider-Women.
NICHOLAS: And don’t forget Spider-Ham who is a cartoon pig. I didn’t get the pig. Its eyes were on its snout on one scene. I was so confused. Spider-Man Noir was pretty cool, though.
AMY: Are these other spider heroes based on real comics?
NICHOLAS: Yes, they are actually part of comic books by Marvel Comics. I have to say I didn’t like “Into the Spider-Verse” too much. I like my traditional, live-action “Spider-Man.” The cartoonish version is just OK. If you’re looking for a fun way to spend some family time, though, this movie would be good for you.
AMY: So, what was your favorite part of the movie?
NICHOLAS: There was a funny scene where all the Spider-Men were fighting inside Aunt May’s house, and she was kicking them out for breaking all her stuff.
AMY: Seriously. I would never be Mary Jane and date a superhero because I have way too many breakables.
NICHOLAS: The movie is a little sad, too. All the versions of Spider-Man have lost someone they love. Miles loses his uncle. In other universes, Uncle Ben died or Aunt May died. Nobody died for Tom Holland, except his parents. Even Kingpin is kind of sad because his real motive is to get a version of his family back.
AMY: In Miles’ universe, Spider-Man had a secret shed of cool suits and gadgets and vehicles. What was up with that?
NICHOLAS: Yes, the other versions of Spider-Man were definitely jealous of all that gear. It was more like a Batman kind of thing. I will say that the suit Miles created for himself with spray paint is significant. True fans will get it.
AMY: My favorite part was recognizing the celebrity voices, like Nicolas Cage who was Spider-Noir.
NICHOLAS: I didn’t recognize any voices I really knew. Something tells me I knew the pig’s voice. Maybe not.
AMY: Well, not to say too much, but you can probably guess how the movie ends.
NICHOLAS: Be careful, Amy, Marvel has a spoiler ban. And you are now assigned homework. You need to watch all the Spider-Man movies you’ve missed since Tobey McGuire. You won’t be sorry.
AMY: OK, Nicholas. I’ll accept that mission, but it will have to wait a bit. Next week we’ll be talking about “Ferdinand,” which will be shown at the church at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23.
