A movie like "Big Ass Spider!" should either be really, really bad or really, really good. Unfortunately, the movie is neither. If it were really awful, then it would have lots of camp value and you could laugh at the ineptitude of the production. Or, if it were really good, you could respect and enjoy the film. Why was it neither? Read on.

The idea about a giant spider attacking L.A. and a likable exterminator who helps save the world is great. Unfortunately, the character Greg Grunberg (famous for his role in the TV series "Heroes") plays is NOT likable--as often he's making boorishly sexist remarks. To put it bluntly, he's just a jerk. Also, the film has too many ridiculous and one dimensional females in it (ranging from a hot military lady in a sexy uniform to assorted large-breasted women playing nearly naked volleyball) and has a variety of things which will potentially offend due to the occasionally crappy writing--in fact it ranges from horrible to clever repeatedly. It's a shame, as the film occasionally has excellent CGI for a cheap film, a few funny moments however on balance just isn't a film most people would watch or enjoy.

By the way, spiders do NOT swallow their prey like they do in the film. Instead, they paralyze it and inject it with a solution that dissolves the prey internally--then they drink the sad creature. It's a lengthy process, so I guess I could understand the filmmakers making the spiders do otherwise.

Big Ass Spider/Mega Spider could have gone either way. It could have been cheap, terribly written and acted and amateurish or it could have been entertaining and likable with a sense that it knows what it wants to be and who it's aimed at. Thankfully while it does have a fair share of flaws Big Ass Spider/Mega Spider belongs in the latter category. The locations are splendidly colourful and atmospheric and the movie is well shot and reasonably edited as well as efficiently and confidently directed. The spider however is a little inconsistent, never terrible but never exceptional at the same time, at points it's menacing and well-designed and at other points it's rather goofy-looking and over-proportioned for an intentionally huge spider. It does at least have a personality and is well used. The music has the right amount of groove and eeriness without feeling out of place and the movie is better than expected in terms of writing. A lot of the supporting cast have very little to do but the writing for Alex and Jose is brilliant, from the hilarious snappy banter to the endearing tongue-in-cheek humour, if there was a choice who fared a little better than the other it would be Jose. The story admittedly does next to nothing new with the concept it has and it is very stretched out in places but it avoids being too campy and it takes an earnest approach without taking it too seriously, considering the concept that is difficult to pull off and the movie makes a decent crack at it. It's never scary but there are some inventive and suspenseful attacks that stops Big Ass Spider/Mega Spider from being too much of one tone, and as acknowledged early on in the review the movie does know who its audience is and what tone it's trying to take, never trying to take on too many ideas or be too simplistic. The characters are a mixed bag, Alex and Jose carry the movie wonderfully and are likable but a lot of the rest of the characters are one-dimensional and annoying. Likewise with the cast, with the best being the likable if goofy Greg Grunberg and the often hysterical Lombardo Boyer. Lin Shaye is amusing if occasionally wooden and Ray Wise is also good. Clare Kramer is laughably bad however with her change from cold to damsel far too sudden while the rest of the cast do nothing with their already thinly-sketched characters and that's including the underused Patrick Bauchau. The ending takes ridiculous to a whole new level as well. In conclusion, not great but still a lot of fun. Oh and the intro is wonderful. 6/10 Bethany Cox

Monster movie comedy about a giant spider running amok in downtown LA. Great title, full credit for that, plus there are a few fun gory moments. However I felt that this film tries too hard to be funny but much of the time it just falls short. There are far, far worse creature features out there, but at the same time I felt that this one is average at best. At least it is relatively short so it does not out stay it's welcome. Nice little Lloyd Kauffman cameo.