Tepid ‘Spider-Man 2’

Watching the hotly anticipated sequel “Spider-Man 2” feels like deja vu, not for the 2002 screen adaptation of the popular Marvel Comics superhero, but for the sequel to 1978’s high-flying “Superman.”

Not bad source material to swipe from, since many declared 1980’s “Superman 2” superior to the original.

The same claim, however, can’t be made here.

Like with the second “Superman” installment, the new “Spider-Man” sequel deepens the romance between its protagonists; in this case Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) and Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst). The film also similarly finds Peter turning his back on his powers only to reconsider after an inspiring flashback from a father figure.

“Superman 2,” on the other hand, sweetened the superhero pot by introducing three Krypton baddies for the Man of Steel to vanquish.

The thorn in Spider-Man’s side here is the tentacled Dr. Octopus (Alfred Molina) — though their clashes prove infrequent, unsatisfying and oh, so computer-generated.

Bravo to director Sam Raimi for insisting on flesh and blood characters. But we line up to see superhero films for the slam-bang action, not the emotional epiphanies.

It’s been two years since we last left a heartbroken Peter Parker and his life hasn’t gotten any better.

He can’t hold down a simple job like delivering pizzas. J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons), his dyspeptic editor at the Daily Bugle, won’t cut him a break. His Aunt May is on the brink of bankruptcy. And Mary Jane won’t even return his calls, since he keeps standing her up to fight one crime or another.

It’s enough to drive a Spider-Man up a wall.

The clouds brighten, but only for a moment, when his buddy Harry (James Franco) sets Peter up for an interview with Dr. Otto Octavius to help him complete his research paper.

Even that goes awry when the doctor’s latest experiment becomes a full-scale meltdown. The subsequent blast fuses to his body a quartet of metallic arms he had strapped on to help him handle dangerous materials. The blast simultaneously pushes his brain to “crazy villain” mode.

Now Peter has to decide whether to square off with “Doc Ock,” try to woo M.J. one last time or trash his Spider-Man uniform and get on with his life.

What’s a guy to do?

“Spider-Man 2” is the rare sequel where the action sequences take a back seat to character development. The Peter/M.J. romance reaches some major milestones here, all given considerable pathos by both Mr. Maguire and Miss Dunst.

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