Clap, clap, clap—
Applause, like thunder.
James was the first to cheer, giving a shout-out for the sharp wit of "The New Yorker."
Finally, even though it was just a moderate review, "The New Yorker" still retained its edge and color, ruthlessly criticizing the film for being conservative and formulaic.
Clearly, this is also one of the major controversies faced by "Spider-Man."
Sam Raimi indeed respected the original source material, offering a fresh take on Peter Parker as a superhero. However, considering the era of the original comics, it inevitably seems outdated compared to current tastes. The loyalty of hardcore fans to the source material might actually become a barrier, stifling the film's ambition and affecting audience engagement.
James, looking serious, said, "What did I say? We should have made Green Goblin Jr. the main character. Harry is the most interesting character in the entire story, right?"
Tch.
This time, boos were thrown at James, along with some potato chips.
But Anson didn't join in the jeers, because he knew James was right—
In the future, when the stories of superheroes have been exhausted, Hollywood studios will turn their attention to the villains, and "Spider-Man" is no exception. The famous villain Venom even has his own series of films.
Just as Anson was about to tease James, a series of rapid knocks on the door broke the atmosphere, and everyone looked toward the door.
Could it be someone arriving late?
Anson was equally puzzled, "Wait, Chris, are you planning another surprise?"
Chris spread his hands, looking innocent.
James chuckled and joked, "If it's Hayden, I'll give him a perfect score."
The atmosphere paused slightly—
Jack, Ryan, and the others had no idea that Hayden had once lived here; meanwhile, Seth and the gang had heard the whole story from James, and even though they said nothing, their expressions showed they didn't welcome Hayden.
So, things got awkward.
James raised his hands in a gesture of surrender and rolled his eyes. "Alright, alright, it was just a joke, just a joke."
But the joke wasn't funny.
If it really was Hayden, what would that mean?
There were many possibilities, but one of them was the worst and most terrible among their speculations:
Hayden's sudden departure might have been due to fear that Anson and James would become as successful as him, or even more so. Before their roles could be reversed, he left early to preserve his dignity. He was willing to be friends with people he saw as below him but couldn't handle them becoming equally or more successful.
And now, hearing that "Spider-Man" might sink like the Titanic, with his fears likely not coming true, he could comfortably continue their friendship.
So, he came back.
Anson really didn't want to delve into these dark and ugly thoughts. The Hayden he remembered wasn't like this at all; but... this is Hollywood, and none of them could guarantee they wouldn't change. No one could promise they'd remain the same in the face of fame and fortune.
Otherwise, why did Hayden choose today to show up?
Was it just a coincidence?
Even though Anson wanted to see Hayden again, this was definitely not the time.
Anson exchanged a look with James and Chris.
James still had his usual laid-back attitude, mentally prepared for whatever might happen. He could face anything calmly.
Chris, on the other hand, stood up nervously, trying to leave the couch and approach Anson.
Anson stopped Chris with a glance and then headed straight for the door.
Taking a deep breath to calm himself, without hesitation, Anson opened the door—
"Surprise!"
Pop, pop, pop.
Confetti popped in the air, and the person's mouth mimicked the sound of crackling fireworks.
Then, Brad Renfro's sweaty, panting, smiling face appeared in front of him.
Relieved, Anson let out a disbelieving smile. Glancing back, he saw James and Chris also visibly relax.
"Brad?"
"You actually... but what about the producer? Are you sure it's okay?"
Anson looked behind Brad but didn't see anyone else, which might mean Brad's talk with the producer didn't go well.
Anson carefully hid his concern.
Brad shook his head, smiled, and patted Anson on the shoulder. "Don't worry, I've handled it all. Cheers!"
Brad stepped in first and greeted everyone with a wave. "Hey, everyone, happy review party!"
Chris and Anson shared the same thought; even though it wasn't Hayden, which was a relief, Brad showing up here raised another question—what about his meeting with the producer?
Chris quickly approached Brad. "Are you sure?" He looked at Anson, full of confusion, but this time, Anson also had no answer to give.
Brad waved him off, signaling Chris not to worry, and spoke openly, "Actually, a producer just invited me for a meeting, but I thought, hey, this is Hollywood. There are opportunities every day and meetings all the time. Even if we're planning to collaborate, there's no rush, right?"
"I told him we could meet tomorrow, and right now, I'm heading home to join my friends' review party. How could I miss Anson and James' review party?"
In the living room, everyone exchanged glances—
They were not that familiar with Brad yet.
Ryan had also stood up, blinking rapidly, feeling a bit flustered, and finally looked to Anson, sending a silent plea for help:
Is this really okay?
Anson was also taken aback. Watching Brad go straight for the whiskey, pouring it generously into a glass of orange juice, he couldn't quite figure it out.
Was the meeting unsuccessful, but Brad didn't want them to worry?
Either way, since Brad didn't want to discuss it, Anson didn't push the topic, especially since there were guests present, and some conversations weren't appropriate.
"Brad, if you're thinking of making an appearance today so that James will return the favor by getting you a role in his next starring film, then I can only say—
Deal!"
A pause, a twist.
Everyone burst out laughing, and the atmosphere instantly became lively again.
Chris stepped up again, giving Brad a hug to show comfort.
Then Anson changed the subject.
"Of course, that's assuming there is a next one."
James clutched his chest, "Ouch."
Laughter erupted again, more joyful this time.
Seeing Chris and Brad find their seats again, Anson picked up his laptop.
"Ladies and gentlemen, so far, none of the big reviews have come out yet. Let's see if they have something fresh to offer."
"Oh."
"Roger Ebert is in."
No need to mention the "Chicago Sun-Times" name; just his name was enough to get everyone banging on the table, howling and cheering.
Anson carefully read for a moment, his eyes widening.
"Wait, this is... actually a positive review!"
Anson looked around, and Chris couldn't hold back, jumping up immediately. Brad, who had just sat down, was almost knocked over by Chris.
"The original story is faithfully presented, and the character portrayal won't disappoint fans of the source material—even Gwen's fans will find it satisfactory. The action sequences are surprisingly well-coordinated, and combined with Sam Raimi's unique horror-style humor, the film is unexpectedly fun."
"And the real surprise comes from—"
Anson looked up from the laptop, staring in disbelief at everyone.
"Anson Wood."