In Hollywood, sequel opportunities rule. Until recently, it was assumed that Spider-Man 3 would mark the end of the line for our sticky-fingered friend, yet the web is already buzzing with talk of a fourth adventure.

The good news is that this pacey, rainbow-coloured blockbuster works both as a filler and a finale. It's easily the best of the trilogy and, for my money, one of the most enjoyable films of the decade.

The comic-book-inspired franchise has always been about the search for balance; ironically, balance is was exactly what the first two movies lacked, with the seriously good cast continually upstaged by the special effects.

This time round, thanks to an inventive script, all the elements are in sync. The plot gives New York photographer Peter Parker aka Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire) three foes to contend with - four, if you count his battle with himself, which is brought on by an alien landing and subsequently turns his suit jet-black.

His love life is also a mess. He keeps trying, and failing, to propose to Kirsten Dunst's Mary Jane, who is suffering a career setback and does not appreciate the arrival of sweet blonde, Gwen Stacy (Bryce Dallas Howard).

The villains are well-rounded, with Flint Marko a joy to behold. Actor Thomas Haden Church has a great, Depression era face and his transformation into The Sandman is spectacularly beautiful - the creature is like a Henry Moore sculpture.

Meanwhile, Peter, Mary Jane and their rich friend Harry Osborn (James Franco) convince as fragile, ambitious twentysomethings trying to make it in the big city. All the encounters are emotionally intense. They're also full of humour. "Where do they get these guys?" says Spidey, tipping out sand from his boots.

Hats off to Maguire. It can't be easy playing boyish at 31, and, at times, he certainly looks rough: a middle-aged baby, all tremulous lips and bulging, vacant blue eyes.

Mostly, though, he does fine, and his spell as a vengeful evil doer - he acquires eyeliner, a Franz Ferdinand fringe and some dodgy disco moves - is hilarious.

Perhaps the film-makers are trying to steal some of Johnny Depp's thunder in the forthcoming Pirates of the Caribbean sequel. If so, it's a smart move. Cheekiness suits Maguire. It suits this franchise, too. Angst be damned. Spider-Man 3 is worth taking seriously, because it's so hell-bent on having fun.