Sony recently released Madame Web (Dakota Johnson) Feb. 14, and it’s another silly and angsty spider person in the already vast array of superhero flicks.  

The movie was primarily carried by its comedic protagonists and less by the plot.

The characters showcase interesting and meaningful relationships, which are emphasized more than the spider powers. 

Cassandra Web received these psychic abilities at birth while still in her mother’s womb. Her mother was researching rare Peruvian spiders to find a cure for degenerative illnesses when she was bit during labor. 

A near-death experience seemingly triggered Cassandra’s dormant powers.

It becomes very apparent that after being raised in the foster system, Cassandra had serious mommy issues.

Not understanding the reasons her mother would be in the middle of a forest in remote Peru, Cassandra held a grudge against her mother for risking her life during her last month of pregnancy. 

At the movie’s beginning, she struggles with emotionally connecting to others.

Cassandra navigates what seems to be glimpses into the future while simultaneously contemplating her insanity. 

Eventually, through these visions, Cassie finds her fellow protagonists: Maddie Franklin (Celeste O’Conner), Anya Corazon (Isabela Merced) and Julia Carpenter (Sydney Sweeney).

These four characters spent the movie running from antagonist Ezekiel (Tahar Rahim), the opposing spider-person.

This character was, unfortunately, extremely underwhelming. 

He lacked depth and, like most college kids, direction in life. 

Unsurprisingly, the antagonist wishes the three teenage spider-girls, excluding Cassandra, dead. 

The reason for wanting them dead is also unsurprising: they pose a threat to the big evil spider Ezekiel. 

The actors in this movie did an excellent job of depicting the awkward nature that comes with teenage angst. 

The character bio for Madame Web was wholesome and interesting to see on screen. 

However, some people were disappointed with the film because of its action. 

The character’s psychic abilities put a limit on the kind of action scenes we saw.

I mean, if all I could do to fight off a superhuman was to see in the future occasionally, I would be running away the whole movie, too.

Since most superhero movies are the characters saving the whole world from some type of world-ending doom, audiences may be desensitized to less stressful situations. 

Overall, as silly as the plot seemed, I would watch it again. 

By the end of the movie, Cassandra resolves her mommy issues and becomes emotionally available — not thanks to therapy, but thanks to the Peruvian spiderman who tried to save her mother.

This meant that she could open her heart enough for three teenage spider girls, who also had overarching parental issues. 

On a more sentimental note, I think the movie sheds light on chosen families. 

The characters struggled with finding a place within their own worlds, often feeling alone, helpless or unlovable.

Not having any family to run to when things get hard sucks, especially when an evil super spider man is trying to kill you.

Watching Cassandra Web and her ragtag team of awkward spider girls reminded me that superheroes don’t have to be saving all of humanity to be still cool.