3.5 stars out of 5
In late December, I saw a confusing trailer for Madame Web starring Dakota Johnson. No interest whatsoever. In late January, however, when Ms. Johnson hosted Saturday Night Live, I learned that her Madame Web character mentors Sydney Sweeney’s character. Total interest; saw the film on opening day.
This is one of those not-quite Marvel movies put out by Sony where I think they’re not allowed to say “Spider-Man”? Except the bad guy’s costume looks like a moldy Spidey suit, later they have some fun basically saying “with great responsibility comes great power,” and reading the character list at the end, I went “ohhhhhhhh.”
Being outside the MCU actually benefits this movie quite a bit. They don’t have to shoehorn in 18 cameos by other heroes, nor do you have needed to watch 15 streaming series to have any ideas what’s going on. Also, the script is bereft of groan-inducing wisecracks.
Early on, we meet paramedics Dakota Johnson and Adam Scott. It would be hard to cast two more likable actors. Johnson begins seeing snippets of the future, and doesn’t know if she has a concussion or is going nuts, etc. But soon enough she crosses path with three teenage girls, one of whom is “nerdy” Sydney Sweeney. Johnson figures out that she’s somehow connected with these young women, and also that she needs to protect them from the aforementioned Spider-Guy.
Now, this is not a great movie. Far from it. Many parts are flat-out stupid. Zosia Mamet, as the bad guy’s IT assistant, turns in one of the all-time laziest check-cashing performances; I don’t think she ever gets out of a chair. Tone-wise and production-value-wise, I was reminded of the late-90s USA Network series NightMan, which was done on the cheap likely on a Toronto soundstage. But compared to the high gloss of the true Marvel films, this was refreshing and there is decidedly less pandering to the audience. (OK, there is a little Pepsi product placement.) Compared with the somewhat similarly structured The Marvels, this is a much superior movie with a good, basic message: girls can get it done, especially when they look after each other.
Jack Silbert, curator