137. Madame Web; movie review

 

MADAME WEB

Cert 12A

111 mins

BBFC advice: Contains moderate violence, threat, language, brief bloody images

What happens to cinema when the superhero bubble bursts?

I have often mused on this as studios have focussed on the giant cash cows.

Perhaps that moment may have arrived.

The underwhelming performance of Madame Web at the box office has reportedly led to Sony cancelling future production of this strand of the Spiderverse.

The film's narrative is a convoluted mess, leaving me perplexed as to how such a confusing storyline was greenlit. The casting choices, particularly the lead role, were also a misstep, contributing to the film's overall poor quality.

At least Dakota Johnson seemed to fit the character in the dreadful 50 Shades franchise.

She is simply too quietly spoken and her acting style is too languid to be the central character in a superhero movie.

But she is not the only one out of place in S.J. Clarkson's Madame Web.

Tahar Rahim's portrayal of Ezekiel Sims lacks the necessary intimidation, and Adam Scott's performance as Cassie Web's best friend feels oddly stiff.

The opening scenes see Sims shooting Cassie's pregnant mum, leaving her for dead before he steals a spider with powerful qualities.

He doesn't realise a secret tribe has saved her baby and she has been given special powers.

Now in her 30s, she begins to have visions of the future and potentially how she can change it.

This coincides with Sims chasing down three innocent teenagers (Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced and Celeste O'Connor) because he believes they will be involved in his death.

If this sounds convoluted, trust me - I have written a much simpler synopsis than the reality.

I was scratching my head over why the young women were involved, how Cassie didn't know anything about her powers until she was comparatively mature or why Sims didn't know about her.

And on and on and on.

The plot is a mess, the casting is awful, and the film has so little overall impact that I have nearly forgotten it only two days after watching it.

The only saving grace is that it might be the first step towards the demise of a movie genre I have never warmed to.

Reasons to watch: For completeness

Reasons to avoid: Pile of tosh

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 3/10

Did you know? Madame Web was created by writer Dennis O'Neil and artist John Romita Jr., and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man No. 210 (November 1980).

The final word. Dakota Johnson: "Sometimes in this industry, you sign on to something, and it’s one thing and then as you’re making it, it becomes a completely different thing, and you’re like, ‘Wait, what?’ But it was a real learning experience, and of course it’s not nice to be a part of something that’s ripped to shreds, but I can’t say that I don’t understand." The Hollywood Reporter

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