An Alternate Reality: I saw the Spider-verse...

Spider-man, aka Peter Parker, is a good role model for kids. That's because he doesn't sit on his duff all day and let the world pass him by. He wants to do good, and to do good,  he works hard to achieve and sustain it, whether within his Manhattan realm or beyond--whether through success or on those rare occasions, failure. 

"Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse" supports this enlightened vibe, though this time Peter Parker (Jake Johnson) isn't the focus, but rather his alternate-reality counterpart, Miles Morales (Shameik Moore). The of-the-same-ilk Morales co-exists with two versions of Parker, allowing each to act as a resourceful, wall-climbing guide.

Adding fuel to the teacher-student fire are other alternate-reality Spideys, all of whom enter the mix due to a dimensional rift spurred by bulky Wilson Fisk, aka the Kingpin (Liev "Wolverine" Schrieber), which may be kismet-kissed, if one subscribes to the notion that all things happen for a reason (and in most Marvel-verses, that's generally the idea). 

In truth, "Spider-verse", directed by Bob Perischetti, Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rothman; and scripted by Rothman and Phil Loyd, is a problem-solving, cooperation fable, with its diverse, eccentric participants helping one another stop dimensional-swapping evil. 

Among the web-slinging alternatives is Spider-Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfield); Spider-man Noir (Nicolas "Ghost Rider" Cage); Spider-Ham (John Mulaney) and Peni Parker (Kamiko Glenn). On the opposing side, we've got the aforementioned Kingpin; Doc Ock (Kathryn Hahn); the Green Goblin (Jorma Taccone); the Scorpion (Joaquin Cosio); and Morales' graffiti-gifted uncle, Aaron Davis, aka the Prowler (Mahershala Ali). 

Though Kingpin's loyalty to his henchmen is at best shaky, the good-guy side gets sincere, homespun support from Morales' parents, Officer Jefferson Davis (Brian Tyree Henry) and Rio (Lauren Luna Valez), as well as Parker's forever faithful (and now technologically inclined) Aunt May (Lily Tomlin). The trio advocates the importance of doing the right thing, as much as any Spidey variant. There's lots to learn from these mature citizens, and the respect they grant their kids (and vice versa) makes "Spider-verse" an identifiable, family film of the old-fashioned kind.

It's also a pretty chunky movie, running nearly two hours, but it never drags, spreading humor, good cheer and turbulent tension throughout every colorful (CGI-animated) turn.

Though its progression is spry, some are bound to take offense to the story's knuckle-clashing bouts and depictions of death, but shame on those who object. It's about time we got back to the rock 'em-sock 'em, real-life basics in a theatrical, animated feature. For those wee dewdrops who can't hack such, there's plenty of nauseating fluff to sniff, but for those who sport a pair of balls, "Spider-verse" is just what the doc (or the late, great Stan Lee) ordered. 

You know, after watching this, adolescent Jimmy might actually conjure the courage to ask adolescent Cindy out on a date, and of course, the poor lad will get shot down. So be it. That's life. I mean, could such be any worse than getting stuck under the Kingpin's derisive thumb or any of those real-life counterparts dear Jimmy will someday face? I think not...