The latest installment in Sony's Spider-Man Universe, "Madame Web," has faced harsh criticism from reviewers, earning the label of a "tangled mess." Starring Dakota Johnson and Sydney Sweeney, the film's premise and performances have come under scrutiny, with a barrage of one-star reviews.
Based on Marvel Comics, the movie revolves around a paramedic endowed with arachnid-based psychic powers. However, critics have not held back in their assessment of the film. The Guardian's Benjamin Lee described it as "dumb and schlocky," criticizing its subpar network TV effects, lackluster action, and uninspiring dialogue. Variety's Peter Debruge echoed the sentiment, deeming the film "superfluous" in an already crowded genre of arachnid-related superheroes, highlighting the title character's vague powers and lack of engaging storyline.
In contrast to the original Marvel comics, where Madame Web is portrayed as an elderly blind woman with psychic abilities, the film presents her as an "athletic Gen X ambulance driver" played by Dakota Johnson. Rolling Stone went as far as calling it "the Cats of superhero movies," drawing parallels to the widely criticized 2019 adaptation of Andrew Lloyd-Webber's musical.
David Fear, in his scathing review, expressed the hope for a future where the film's end credits would be a distant memory. The Hollywood Reporter categorized "Madame Web" as another instance where studios hype up minor characters, leaving audiences to grapple with the resulting disappointment.
While opinions on the acting were somewhat divided, Dakota Johnson's performance received contrasting reviews. The Guardian dismissed her as "ill-fitting," while IndieWire commended her for doing her best in the face of a retrograde superhero narrative. David Ehrlich acknowledged Johnson's talent but noted that even her skill couldn't fully redeem the movie's moments of "miserableness."
This critical reception follows the negative response to Sony's 2022 superhero film, "Morbius," labeled a "hopeless Marvel venture" by the Telegraph. The challenges faced by superhero films since the monumental success of "Avengers: Endgame" in 2019 have been evident, with several underperforming at the box office in recent years.
Despite the criticism, the film industry continues to explore lesser-known characters from the comic book universe, often leading to mixed reviews and debates among audiences.
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