"Fun, But Marred"

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What You Need To Know:
The first two episodes of YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN are fun and creative. They have strong voice acting and positive moral content. However, the stiff animation leaves something to be desired. Peter Parker exhibits the virtues of justice, courage and rescuing civilians. He apologizes to villains for hurting them and offers them redemption if they repent. However, the first two NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN episodes have light foul language, strong fantasy violence and some politically correct content. For example, his friend is politically correct and bisexual. So, MOVIEGUIDE® advises strong caution for older children.
Content:
More Detail:
YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN is a computer-generated action series on Disney+. Set during his ninth grade, Peter Parker is getting to grips as a young vigilante. In episodes one and two, he grabs the attention of Norman Osborn. Peter snags a once-in-a-lifetime science internship at Oscorp. However, Peter struggles. He’s torn between saving the city or disappointing his friends. Will the web slinger be able to survive? The series is set in an alternate world within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
In Episode One, “Amazing Fantasy,” Peter Parker is bitten by a spider from an alternate dimension. In this series, Peter is a nervous high school freshman with a passion for robotics. He’s in the first stage of his crime-fighting career. Later, Peter aims to ask his high school crush on a date. However, Lonnie, the popular football quarterback, gets to the girl first. Will Peter’s heart crumble forever?
The first episode is a solid beginning to the series. The action scenes are creative, the pacing is good, and the characters are well realized. The biggest strength is Peter’s characterization. In this version, Peter acts like an authentic American teenager who has a good-heart but is prone to making mistakes. He’s socially awkward around his classmates but always tries to do the right thing. The vocal performance by Hudson Thames as Peter is earnest and easily the best part of the show. The second best part is his moral compass.
In terms of morality, YFN SPIDER-MAN offers a strong moral worldview. Peter Parker spends his time capturing city thieves, stopping car chases, and rescuing civilians from battle. In episode one, Peter lets a female thief escape after she apologizes to her victim. In episode two, Peter checks to make sure his enemy is still breathing from a fight. Peter also mentions he misses his father-figure Uncle Ben (whose death is not explained in this program). The program doesn’t mention faith or God, but Peter upholds a sense of justice and responsibility.
In Episode Two, “The Parker Luck,” Peter accepts Norman’s offer of a science internship at Oscorp. On the first day of the internship, Peter makes a promise to watch his friend Lonnie during the school football game. However, Peter’s lack of proper planning prompts him to bail on his promise. He also risks failing the intern entrance exam at Oscorp. Will Peter be able to save himself?
Episode Two is a great follow-up to the first episode. Lonnie’s twist of “quarterback player who values intelligence” is a welcome addition, and it’s satisfying seeing him develop a friendly bond with Peter. Peter’s antics at Oscorp and the villains also yield funny moments. Sadly, this episode exposes the show’s downsides.
The animation quality is a mixed bag. The show goes in a 3D cel-shaded direction, emulating the look of 1960s Spider-Man comics. The character models and environments are great, but the animation has the fluidity of dry concrete. It is stilted, limited and fails to live up to the creative angles used in the action scenes. If you are expecting SPIDER-VERSE quality animation, you need to look elsewhere.
For sensitive viewers, this show has two major red flags, the mild fantasy violence and light foul language. Spider-Man gets into fist fights, a car chase and a life-or-death match with an arsonist villain. He throws a brick at a petty thug and tosses an enemy through a glass window. Peter also gets hit by a taxi and in the face by the villains. There is no blood or gore, but Peter briefly blurts out “Hell” and “crap” in two separate battles.
To sum up, the first two episodes of YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN are generally a positive experience. They offer strong voice acting and positive moral content. However, the stiff animation leaves something to be desired. Peter Parker exercises the virtues of justice, courage and rescuing civilians. He even apologizes to villains for hurting them and also offers them redemption if they repent. However, YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN has some light foul language and strong fantasy violence. So, MOVIEGUIDE® advises strong caution for teenage viewers.
The original SPIDER-MAN comic books were groundbreaking in the 1960s. They featured a teenage superhero who had personal teenage problems. YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN is trying to recapture that tone, but with modern updates. For example, the characters are more ethnically diverse. Also, Peter Parker’s high school friend expresses an interest in both boys and girls. She also expresses a disdain for a wealthy businessman and an oil company.