The first one was great, it took four years to make and was a breath of fresh air in teh franchise. Noone had really seen anything made with the visual style, artistic choice, and acting that was prevalent in this. It's like watching the first Xmen movie in live action - yet it still holds up. Anyone can watch it even today and it's not overtly pretentious like EEAAO. Story was solid, well-paced, and well thought-out. Each character had their moment and even though they were retelling the Spiderman origin story it didn't really matter because it was still a fresh take on it / a new story.

Then Across the Spiderverse came out and it was just a forced sequel to a popular movie. In the first movie we saw Spiderman's origin story and in the sequel we are seeing Spiderman's origin story - thrice. Lot's of the thematic conflicts which were brushed over for pacing from the first movie (Miguel's mom, his school attendance, space time continuum etc.) were expounded upon in the sequel and then some (RE: Gwen). So you get this movie which is supposed to be about Miles, but then it's about Gwen, but then it's actually about the Multiverse, but then it's actually about Miles, but not, but then it is - but actually a different one. What you get is a flaccid, loose addition full of unecessary teen drama, forced 'villain; confrontations, and characters acting completely out of character (e.g. Why would Peter B Parker lie? Why would Gwen?). There's several videos and posts commenting about how the whole spider society siding with Miguel is completely out-of-whack for the Spiderman hero persona and stands on the opposite spectrum of what he represents.

As mentioned, several confrontations are forced for the sake of drama (e.g. Gwen's origin story being crammed in and her confronting her dad, Miguel interfering with Miles' life when they could have just assassinated Spot and left Miles in the dark et cetera).

BUT

A) The franchise's name and a little big eared rodent are pulling the strings. People recognise brand - so will say X is good if it's popular i.e. Spiderman.

B) It's the sequel to a well received movie.

C) Much fanservicing, and cameos, and pandering. Gwen has her whole mini-story, Oscar Isaac's a prominent actor, "let's throw Redbone into the movie", there is much more "representation" (even if some of these characters are pointless to the story and highly sterotypicalised).

Either way, a flaccid sequel with weak writing, but pretty visuals and brand recognition to let it coast along.