REEL CRITICS:Spidey is satisfactory but doesn’t soar

Columbia Pictures’ “Spider-Man 3” struck such fear in the heart of the other movie studios that it was released virtually alone this past weekend. Their trepidation was validated when “Spider-Man 3” grossed $148 million domestically and more than $300 million internationally in just three days.

Rumored to be the most expensive film ever produced, the latest in the highly successful “Spider-Man” franchise was practically guaranteed to be a blockbuster. With a built-in audience anxious for yet another sequel, the makers of “Spider-Man 3” carry a certain responsibility to produce a film worth seeing that will pique the public’s interest in yet another installment.

Unfortunately, “Spider-Man 3” offers nothing new and even the elaborate action sequences are repetitive and tiresome. The movie is the cinematic version of empty calories in that it is somewhat satisfying while being consumed, but ultimately offers nothing of substance.

Nearly the entire cast of the previous films returns in “Spider-Man 3” including Tobey McGuire as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane Watson, James Franco as Harry Osborn, J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson and Rosemary Harris as Aunt May.

The film opens with everything seemingly going well for Peter Parker. His girlfriend Mary Jane is opening in a Broadway play, he is doing well in school and he continues to work as a freelance photographer for the Daily Bugle.

Little does Parker realize his friend Harry Osborn is plotting revenge, as he believes Spider-Man killed his father Norman Osborn, the Goblin. Harry will become New Goblin, possessing superhuman strength and a variety of high-tech gadgets.

Besides facing this arch villain, Spider-Man must also contend with a squirming batch of black ooze that was carried to earth by a meteorite. The ooze envelopes Peter one night and takes the form of a black Spider-Man costume. The ooze is in fact a parasite that enhances its host’s aggressive tendencies.

Also stalking Spider-Man is the Sandman, a small-time crook named Flint Marko who was transformed when he stumbled into a sandpit being used for a nuclear experiment.

To top that off, Spider-Man eventually frees himself of the black suit, which then attaches itself to rival photographer Eddie Brock (Topher Grace), turning him into yet another nemesis named Venom.

Too many subplots involving all these characters are some of the problems with “Spider-Man 3.” Apparently, fans of the comic books are already familiar with New Goblin, Sandman and Venom, but to those of us not so initiated, the characters are shallow and not fleshed out. Yet another aspect of “Spider-Man 3” is the angst-ridden love affair between Peter and Mary Jane. The film wastes a lot of time with Mary Jane’s floundering theatrical career and Peter’s clueless attempts to reassure her. Also introduced is another love interest, the beautiful but equally boring Gwen Stacy (Bryce Dallas Howard).

The scenes where Peter becomes a “bad boy” due to the influence of the black suit are played for laughs and give some indication of where this film could have gone. It’s hard to believe that someone with Spider-Man’s celebrity would be content to live in near poverty and would subject himself to being put through the emotional wringer by his whiny girlfriend. It’s almost refreshing to see him act like a self-obsessed jerk.

The action scenes in “Spider-Man 3” seem to go on forever and do so because none of the combatants can be injured. Many of the computer animated stunts defy physics and take on a cartoon-like quality. It’s hard to believe Spider-Man is in any danger when we saw him survive nearly the same torment in a previous scene.

“Spider-Man 3” is already a success and will probably be one of the biggest hits of the season. However, the film never soars and only does enough to be mildly entertaining. With such a great cast and so much money spent, the movie-going public should expect better.