Calling Marc Webb’s perfunctory remixing of Spider-Man’s origins “Amazing” was an audacious claim back in 2012. Now, less than two years later, comes the web-slinger’s greatest battle: to remain relevant.

Andrew Garfield is truly marvellous as both Spidey and Peter Parker, ably producing two far more definitive characters than Tobey Maguire.

But this chapter is more a smoothie of ideas than one whole pint of story – and it’s far too long. Villains remain grossly underdeveloped, dialogue is as thick and fluffy as cotton wool, and the tone bounces around more than its hero.

It’s fun, but nothing more.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is better than its predecessor but still not good enough to justify such a recent reboot or mount a charge against the Marvel juggernaut. This update on the popular franchise remains less about the ‘Amazing’, more about the $pider-Man.

RATING: 3/5

INFORMATION

CAST: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Dane DeHaan, Sally Field, Paul Giamatti

DIRECTOR: Marc Webb

WRITERS: Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Jeff Pinkner, James Vanderbilt

SYNOPSIS: Peter Parker runs the gauntlet as the mysterious company Oscorp sends up a slew of supervillains against him, impacting on his life.