The Most Absurd Choice Among Madame Web’s Wild Decisions
At this juncture, criticizing ‘Madame Web’ almost feels excessive. What can one even say about its disjointed ADR, the squandered talents of Dakota Johnson, Adam Scott, and Sydney Sweeney, the convoluted plot due to its ties to Sony’s Spider-Verse, the overt Pepsi product placements, and the film’s underwhelming box office performance coupled with negative reviews?
The ridicule began well before the movie’s release, with a line from the trailer, “he was in the Amazon with my mother when she was researching spiders just before she died,” quickly becoming a meme, even getting a mention from John Mulaney at the Oscars! Crafting a movie is challenging, with numerous pitfalls waiting to derail it.
However, one particular creative choice in ‘Madame Web’ stands out like a sore thumb: Why is Cassandra Webb watching A Christmas Carol in the summer?
Also Read: Exploring The Connection Between Spider-Man and Madame Web
For those who might have overlooked this amidst the film’s other oddities, here’s a quick rundown. After experiencing her superpowers for the second time, Cassandra (Cassie) witnesses a vision of her coworker O’Neil’s (Mike Epps) death, prompting her to seek medical advice. The doctor finds nothing wrong with Cassie’s tests and suggests she take a week off, recommending some “old movies” for relaxation.
Cut to Cassie on the couch, melancholically watching the 1951 version of ‘A Christmas Carol’ starring Alastair Sim. Interrupted by a voicemail from her paramedic partner Ben urging her to attend O’Neil’s funeral, Cassie turns off the TV and begins exploring her precognitive abilities. It’s almost normal, but not quite.
‘A Christmas Carol’ is a timeless classic, but its appearance in ‘Madame Web’ becomes increasingly bizarre upon closer examination. Firstly, it’s summertime. There’s no winter attire, no holiday decorations (despite being set in a famously festive city), and right before the predicted death, there’s a barbecue scene. Moreover, there’s a clear link to summer with the birth of a significant character towards the end, strongly implying that Peter Parker (future Spider-Man) is born during this season.
How do we know? Sony announced Peter Parker’s birthday as August 10th in a 2020 social media post. While watching a Christmas movie in summer isn’t unheard of, its inclusion in ‘Madame Web’ amplifies the movie’s absurdity to new heights.
Filmmakers often include clips from movies that tie into their themes or plot. For instance, ‘Field of Dreams’ begins with a scene from Harvey, a movie about an imaginary friend, which mirrors the protagonist’s experiences. Similarly, ‘Madame Web’ explores themes of seeing the future and questioning whether it’s immutable, making ‘A Christmas Carol’ seem thematically relevant. However, it’s unclear if this choice was made during post-production due to availability or as a deliberate thematic link.
Considering Cassie’s age and the movie’s setting in 2003, she might have nostalgically watched ‘The Muppet Show’ or films like ‘The Great Muppet Caper’ and ‘The Muppets Take Manhattan’ from her childhood.
Alternatively, she could have opted for a Nicolas Cage movie or ‘Final Destination 2’, which aligns with the film’s theme of evading death. Even watching ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’ would have been a more logical choice given her age and upbringing as a Muppets fan.
Despite Madame Web’s technical flaws and missteps, such as its rushed post-production, it’s these quirky details like Cassie watching ‘A Christmas Carol’ that elevate it from a generic cash grab to something uniquely bizarre and oddly entertaining.
–Farheen Ali
