Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) review

More multi-dimensional Marvel shenanigans, whether you wanted it or not: Spider-Woman Gwen Stacy (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld) is falsely accused of killing Spider-Man Peter Parker, gets rescued by kindred Spider-People, finds Spider-Man Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) and they hunt down scientist-turned-teleporting-hole-man the Spot (Jason Schwartzman), Miles ticks off humorless Spider-Man 2099 (Oscar Isaac) and has an entire planet filled with web-slingers chasing him, etc.  What I thought worked well in 2018's Into the Spider-Verse is not quite as special this time around: it's at its "best" sticking with being snappy and changing the animation styles frequently, and not so much when it tries to be serious or deal with real-world issues like mortality and parenting (both Gwen and Miles have strained relationships with their families).  As the longest animated movie ever made (to date), it becomes numbing after a while, and I was unfortunately reminded that the writers of these comic book movies can "wiggle out" of any situation they get stuck in, unbound by 'natural laws' (since there are none).  Would I have liked to have seen more from Spider-Man India (Karan Soni) and especially Spider-Punk (Daniel Kaluuya)?  You're darned tootin' ... so they'll probably be back in the follow-up.