Spidey 2 builds a better web

SPIDER-MAN 2 — **** — Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Alfred Molina; rated PG-13 (violence, profanity); Carmike 12 and Ritz 15 Theaters; Century Theatres 16; Cinemark Jordan Landing Theaters; Cinestar 5-Star and Gateway Cinemas; Megaplex 12 at the Gateway; Megaplex 17 at Jordan Commons; Redwood Drive-in; Tu Cine/Cinemas 5; Westates Holladay Center Cinemas 6.

For those of us who thought the second "Spider-Man" couldn't possibly be better than the first, it turns out we were wrong. So very wrong. . . .

"Spider-Man 2" is about as perfect as a summer movie — and a superhero movie — can get. It improves on its predecessor in almost every way . . . except for comic-artist Alex Ross's dazzling, painted, under-the-credits recap of the first film.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is how much genuine characterization and story and emotion there is in this film. In fact, even if the superhero aspects were completely done away with, it would still be a terrific movie.

That said, the riveting action scenes are also better, thanks to improved, smoother CGI effects. (Parents should be warned that there are a few scary moments — and one, in particular — that may be disturbing to younger children).

This sequel picks up the story a couple years later, though our hero's characteristic bad luck is running true to form. Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) has just been fired from his pizza delivery job for being chronically late. He's also failing his college courses. And his Aunt May (Rosemary Harris) is about to default on her mortgage.

Worst of all, his true love, Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst), has finally had enough of his constant no-shows and apparent flakiness. So she's become engaged to John Jameson (Daniel Gillies), the astronaut son of Peter's other boss, newspaper publisher J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons).

Enough is enough, so Peter decides to give up the superhero-ing and retire his Spider-Man alter-ego once and for all. However, there's a complication, a new bad guy — Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina), or "Dr. Octopus" — who is running around town, threatening lives.

Thanks to a lab accident, four nearly indestructible "tentacles" have been fused to his body. Doc Ock blames Spidey for sabotaging the experiment and wants revenge. As does Peter's best friend, Harry Osborn (James Franco), who blames Spidey for the death of his father.