The character of Uncle Ben in the world of SPIDER-MAN is just as crucial to Peter Parker’s transformation from nerd to superhero as that bitey radioactive spider is. Ben is a voice of reason in the troubled kid’s life, a surrogate father and a friend. Martin Sheen inhabits the role in Marc Webb’s THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, and who better to play him? Sheen is a true natural-born screen presence – not to mention Hollywood royalty.
But he’s also got the wise and rascally charisma of a lovable old uncle, and that was never more apparent to me than it was in the few minutes that I actually got to sit across from the man. Just watch and enjoy as Mr. Sheen does his thing here; I’m just a spectator, like you. (A happy one, at that!)
“When I was growing up, Uncle Ben was this great rice!.”
