In this film image released by Sony Pictures, Andrew Garfield is shown in a scene from “The Amazing Spider-Man.When a new actor slips on the Spandex for a superhero franchise reboot, we should notice. And we do with Andrew Garfield, who plays Peter Parker in director Marc Webb’s “The Amazing Spider-Man.”
Garfield, anchoring his first franchise outing, represents a significant change from Tobey Maguire, who played Parker/Spidey in the three “Spider-Man” films spanning the years 2002-2007. Maguire was wide-eyed astonishment cut with a blase comic delivery of the lighter material. Garfield by contrast is pure adolescent angst (though he’s nearly 30), more openly emotional and James Dean-y. He’s a rebel with a cause and ultralight ultra-thin metal cable shooting out of his wrists.
And he’s very good. The nerve-racking duality of his character’s situation – abruptly and mysteriously disappearing parents; a serious midfilm loss of a loved one; warring responsibilities as both ordinary citizen and extraordinary crimefighter – is all there in Garfield’s face and body language. The Spider-Man guise gives this jangling bundle of loose ends a purpose and physical grace.
Director Webb, whose previous film was “(500) Days of Summer,” has a clean-lined script that clears away the clutter of the last “Spider-Man” installment from ’07. Here the storytelling carries the virtue of simplicity and a lack of camp. Peter squares off with the genetic expert associate (Rhys Ifans) of Peter’s now-missing father (Campbell Scott). Dr. Connors, who gave up his right arm in the name of science, transforms into The Lizard, a character from the early ’60s “Spider-Man” comics. Martin Sheen and Sally Field ease comfortably into the roles of Peter’s aunt and uncle.
This is not a film of stunning set pieces. For better or worse – at the box office, that is – it’s actually interested in character and, to some degree, to the degree the Marvel franchise machinery will allow, things like pacing and rhythm (though it feels a bit long). I’m not sure about the way the Lizard is handled here as a terrifying digital mini-zilla who periodically turns “The Amazing Spider-Man” into a full-on horror movie. But when he gets the chance, Ifans, a fine and subtle actor, works in the same confidential and privately suffering key as does Garfield.