While there are many knots in its webbing, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 mostly works thanks to a strong emotional core that anchors an otherwise cartoonish and bloated superhero affair.

When assessing what makes a great superhero movie work, “tone” would have to be on top of that list. It’s what separates The Dark Knight from Batman and Robin, X2 from X-Men: The Last Stand and Spider-Man 2 from Spider-Man 3.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is its own worst enemy when it comes to tone. As directed by Marc Webb (who also made the successful reboot), this sequel routinely cuts its own stride mid swing. Strong characters portrayed by talented actors are unfairly overshadowed by Webb’s indecisive direction, with the 500 Days of Summer filmmaker not sure if he wants to make a superhero action/drama or a 142 minute cartoon. The clash between both is jarring.

Andrew Garfield returns as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, recent college graduate whose life is torn between the physically taxing demands of battling crime, and his emotionally ridden relationship with brilliant young scientist Gwen Stacey (Emma Stone).

Garfield cements his standing in the role in his second outing as Spider-Man. While his ability to play the high drama that’s part and parcel with this tortured hero was never in question, it’s Garfield’s key comedic timing that surprises, delivering those witty one-liners while brilliantly exhibiting a knack for physical, slapstick comedy.

Most impressive is the strong chemistry between Garfield and Stone, with the easy, heartfelt and playful back and forth between the two enhancing that strong emotional factor that any Spider-Man movie should have, since it is the relationships – complex and raw – that this superhero has with his loved ones that sets him apart from other comic book characters.

Another key element to that strong emotional core is the introduction of Harry Osbourne (Dane DeHann), childhood friend of Peter Parker and lone heir to Oscorp Industries (a shady science and technology corporation) whose obsession with Spider-Man reaches murderous heights. DeHann has consistently proven to be a captivating presence on the screen, and in his most high profile role to date he damn near steals the show with a vulnerable and scary performance, providing rhyme and reason (no matter how twisted) to one of Marvel Comics greatest monsters.

The same can’t be said of the other villains of The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and back we come to “tone”.

For some reason Webb insists his villains be portrayed as hammily as possible. Paul Giamatti is distractingly, annoyingly over the top as Russian criminal turned armoured super-villain Rhino. Yet Giamatti’s time on screen is fortunately short. Same can’t be said of Jamie Foxx and his portrayal of Electro, a put down upon nerd who - in a freak accident that can only be thought up in a comic book movie – transforms into a living electric generator able to control and create electricity.

It is a cool concept, but terribly mishandled by Webb and lazily portrayed by Foxx, especially in the pre-transformation stages where Foxx the Oscar winning thesp reverts back to Foxx the sketch show actor, performing his best Revenge of the Nerds shtick to cringe worthy results.

Post-transformation isn’t any better, with husky voice spouting bad dialogue that’s driven by confusing motivation. It’s a portrayal that belongs not in the modern day Marvel Studios universe, but rather in the Joel Schumacher Batman movies we all would like to forget. Scratching this villain would have done favours for the films gruelling 2 ½ hour run time.

Webb does have a good handle on the films many action sequences, with Spider-Man’s web slinging theatrics having never looked better. If only that same attention to detail could be applied to all of his characters, and if only he could realise that just because he is making a comic book movie that doesn’t mean he is making a live action cartoon.

Solid entertainment, but a missed opportunity.