jfid – Female superhero films are no longer a novelty in the world of cinema. Following the success of Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel, Black Widow, and Birds of Prey, it’s now Madame Web’s turn to capture audience attention.
The film is an adaptation of one of Spider-Man’s lesser-known characters, Cassandra “Cassie” Webb, a paramedic with precognitive abilities, or the ability to see the future.
However, does this film offer something fresh and different from other superhero movies? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Madame Web is a repetitive, dull film filled with clichéd dialogue.
The film fails to develop its characters well, especially Cassie, portrayed by Dakota Johnson. Despite Johnson’s efforts to convey expressions and emotions, her acting still feels flat and unconvincing.
The film also doesn’t make the most of the potential of the other three young women who are Cassie’s friends, namely Julia (Sydney Sweeney), Anya (Isabela Merced), and Mattie (Celeste O’Connor).
They were supposed to be part of a female superhero team called the Spider-Girls, but they only appear at the end of the film as cameos. Yet, they have interesting powers, such as controlling fire, earth, and electricity.
Furthermore, the film has a simple and predictable plot. It’s essentially about the conflict between Cassie and Ezekiel (Tahar Rahim), a villain who wants to obtain rare spiders that can cure all diseases.
Ezekiel also envisions Cassie and the Spider-Girls killing him in the future. Therefore, he tries to stop them by any means necessary.
However, the film fails to adequately explain Ezekiel’s background and motivations. He comes across as a generic and uninteresting villain.
The film also doesn’t explain how Cassie acquired her powers or why she can connect with the Spider-Girls. It relies solely on action scenes that lack spectacle and special effects that are less than dazzling.
Madame Web attempts to be a bold and different female superhero film but falls short. It lacks charm, humor, or surprises to entertain the audience. It ends up being just an ordinary superhero film and could even be considered one of the worst superhero films ever made.
