Maguire Caught In Superhero Web

Love weaves a tangled web for Tobey Maguire who's back as the reluctant superhero in "Spider-Man 2." Only this time, the web gets stickier as Maguire's character Peter Parker cannot reveal his affection or secret identity to Kirsten Dunst's character "M.J."

"I think Peter Parker is really similar, kind of the same guy," he tells The Early Show co-anchor Julie Chen. "He's just in a different place. He's now living alone in Manhattan. He's got two jobs. He goes to college. He's doing his Spider-Man duties."

In "Spider-Man 2," the only thing tighter than Parker's form-fitting red suit is the tight spot he finds himself in, keeping his identity from the woman he loves.

"[Parker]'s also becoming aware of his unhappiness, Maguire says. "He has a great gap, in his relationships with the people he loves because he has secrets and it's also painful for him. He has great guilt."

Peter Parker feels guilty for wanting to leave his Spider-Man behind and lead a normal life -- just when his latest arch-enemy, Doc Ock, short for "Doctor Octopus" wreaks havoc on New York City.

Once again, Tobey Maguire had to bulk up to play "Spider Man." But this time, he had to do it after slimming down for his role as a jockey in "Seabiscuit." He even maintained his strict vegetarian diet of tofu, beans, veggies ... and more tofu.

"You know, people go 'Oh, must have been so great after "Seabiscuit," getting to just eat a bunch of food or whatever.' I said, 'No, I had to eat twice as much of food I don't like.'"

So, what was the first meal he ate after he was done shooting?

"I do a six-day-a-week diet," he says. "One day a week, I eat whatever I want. And I eat whatever I want. Get me macaroni and cheese. Get me Haagen-Dazs. I go to movies and popcorn, peanut M&Ms. Yeah, Sour Patch Kids, too. You know, Buncha Crunch. I mean, people [say], 'Oh God, how can you eat all that stuff?'"

As he jokes, he gestures with his hands, as if he's stuffing his face with food.

Like the speeding trains on which Maguire fights in "Spider Man 2," his life and career are definitely on track. And it's all happening so fast that he can barely believe that this month, he's just turning 29.

How does the comic book superhero feel about hitting the big 3-0?

"It's pretty much just a number. I mean, it's all relative. Some people [say] 'Oh, you're really young.' And, but I remember being a teenager. You're like, 14, 15, you look at someone who's, like, 28, 29, you're like, wow, I'm going to be that age someday."

"And now I'm that age, I'm, like, wow, I still feel like a teenager. I can't believe I thought this was old. But, you know, I'm looking forward to 30. I think it's kind of cool. It's weird how young it really is."

When he was a kid, Maguire says he thought life ended at 30, but he is quickly learning that, like the life of superheroes, it's only just begun.

For the record, Tobey Maguire will be close to 32 when the next "Spider-Man" movie is set to swoop into theaters.