Parents' Guide to Madame Web

Director S.J. Clarkson smoothly weaves four diverse female characters into the Spider-verse, but Madame Web ultimately lacks bite—and credibility. On the plus side, Sony's parallel/independent Marvel Universe is doing well when it comes to superhero inclusivity. For parents of daughters, there can never be too many inspirational fierce female characters, and the ones here are all from different walks of life in terms of race, socioeconomic class, and family status.

But will this web of positivity catch kids' attention, or will they fly right through it? Cassie's abilities become more and more far-fetched, effects that might read well on the page but are difficult to depict on screen without making audiences scoff. (Even in a fantasy feature, there are limits to suspending disbelief.) And at times, the dialogue calls attention to its lack of imagination as well, sometimes provoking unintended laughs. On the other hand, the writers have fun with the 2003 setting, an era that was particularly challenging for women. When the girls dance to Britney Spears, it's a wink to those who appreciate the symbolism of four women banding together to stop a "Toxic" man who puts his own needs over their own.