Bill Condon’s Kiss of the Spider Woman is a stylish, emotional grandeur, a fantasy-infused, queer, and politically charged reworking of the classic tale told through music and opulent visuals. And although it is irresistibly lovely to look at, in my opinion the film majority of the time always appears to be performing grand emotion rather than truly experiencing it.

Jennifer Lopez stars as Ingrid Luna, the seductive actress and titular Spider Woman in Molina’s (played by Tonatiuh) extravagant daydreams, which occur while he is imprisoned for a political crackdown. The movie exists as a film within a film which is always tough considering Molina’s fantasy life is his escape, and Lopez brings the vibrance with every ounce of stardom. Lopez without a doubt is compelling, committed, and outwardly beautiful, but despite these efforts there’s always a feeling that the film isn’t entirely sure what it should do with her. The idea and her performance itself are grand but even for a musical that can be a problem that works best when it can be subtle and intimate.

Tonatiuh, on the other hand, is the heartbeat of the film. His portrayal of Molina is gentle, stern, and full of contradictions. It’s the kind of performance that reminds you why the little things matter. Every time the movie is about to gets lost in the spectacle, he brings it back to something human.

The film looks incredible always but at times, leans too hard on its own production design and spectacle. The emotional through line gets muddled, when the fantasy sequences start to feel repetitive and the political tension takes a backseat.

Ambition is never in doubt here. Kiss of the Spider Woman plays for keeps with themes of identity, survival, and storytelling itself. It’s the kind of film that captivates your eyes instead of your heart.