Peter Parker a.k.a. Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire’s) life is running along smoothly. He’s earning his degree at night school, he’s got a solid job at the newspaper, and he’s about to propose to his one true love, Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst). He’ll even use his Aunt May’s antique ring to do it! Unfortunately there’s only one problem: Spidey’s best pal Harry (James Franco) is going to ruin everything by seeking revenge on Parker/Spider-Man, determined to see him dead. But when a catch-me-if-you-can violent chase results in Harry’s memory loss, Spidey has a new nemesis in Sandman (Thomas Haden Church) to keep him on his toes (er, buildings) while his newspaper colleague Eddie Brock (Topher Grace) plays nemesis to Parker at the office. Sound confusing? It is. This movie has enough villains and subplots to make five mini-movies. But it’s got something else, too. It’s got what most violent-action-sci-fi-special-effect-blow-‘em-up flicks don’t have: It’s got a love story and then some. Gwen (Bryce Dallas Howard) provides a little love triangle of heartache for MJ and Spidey and Harry provides a triangle for Spidey and MJ. The movie also has two questions that might cross an audience members mind: why is it that women fall from tall buildings in the movie versions, but never in real life Manhattan? And why can’t Parker – who takes a lot of jabs from bullies – just admit he’s actually Spider-Man? Seems it would solve all his problems. Maybe it’s that very secret that gives the audience superior position over the characters, and gives the movie its continued box office magnitude. Three Tiaras
