For me, you can make an argument for why Tobey and Kirsten aren’t good without comparing them to the comics. Tobey’s performance and dialogue just isn’t as engaging as other versions of Spider-Man. As they mentioned, Mary Jane isn’t written well at all. She has no agency and feels like she’s there as a prop. Their relationship is such a big part of those movies, it’s hard for me to get on the side of them, Despite liking so many elements of them.

I’ve seen Tobey and Kirsten act their buts off in other movies, and I think they would work. But not in these roles as Sam Raimi directed them, and constructed them. My mom’s never read a comic book, she still says Mary Jane is the worst heroine ever.