Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, J.K. Simmons, Dylan Baker, John Malkovich, Anne Hathaway, Thomas Haden Church
“With great power comes… a bad back.”
Spider-Man 4: Web of Life brings the original Sam Raimi saga to a heartfelt and thrilling conclusion. We find Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) in his late 40s, living a life he once thought impossible: stability. He is a weary but beloved science professor at Columbia University, finally balancing his dual identity. His marriage to Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) has weathered every storm; she is now a celebrated Broadway actress and the rock of the family. Together, they are raising their teenage daughter, Mayday Parker, a brilliant high schooler who is secretly hiding “sticky” reflexes and a Spider-Sense that tingles during math class.
Peter has largely retired the red-and-blue suit, leaving the daily grind of crime-fighting to a younger generation of Avengers and vigilantes. He only steps out of the shadows for major disasters, preferring to be a father rather than a savior. But the past refuses to stay buried.
The tragedy begins with Dr. Curt Connors (Dylan Baker). After decades of suppressing his research, Peter’s one-armed mentor succumbs to the pressure of his own failing biology. In a desperate attempt to regrow his limb, he injects an experimental serum. The result is a Sam Raimi-style horror transformation: Connors becomes The Lizard, a feral, hulking nightmare that tears through the sewers of New York. For Peter, this isn’t just a monster; it’s a friend he failed to save.
Simultaneously, a new threat descends from the skies. Adrian Toomes (John Malkovich), a brilliant but terminally ill inventor known as The Vulture, discovers Spider-Man’s secret identity through cold, calculated surveillance. Toomes isn’t interested in robbing banks; he wants Peter’s irradiated blood to cure his own cellular decay. To get close to the Parker family, Toomes hires Felicia Hardy (Anne Hathaway), a master thief and daughter of a cat burglar, to infiltrate Peter’s life. However, Felicia finds herself torn between her job and an unexpected connection with the former hero.
The Daily Bugle is louder than ever, with J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons) now running an angry, viral news empire, screaming that the “Menace has Returned!” when Spidey is spotted again.
The film is a classic mix of horror and heart. Peter must don the mask one last time, despite his aching joints and slower reflexes. He is forced to fight a war on two fronts: saving Dr. Connors from his own beastly nature while protecting his family from the predatory Vulture. The climax takes place atop the Chrysler Building, a high-stakes aerial battle where Mayday Parker is forced to reveal her powers to save her father. In the end, Peter must make the ultimate decision: forbid his daughter from the life of a hero, or teach her that the responsibility is now hers to carry.
