The following is a non-spoiler review.
Well, they did it. Marvel Studios finally figured how to craft an engaging solo Spider-Man film.
Acting as a beautiful ode to the legacy of titular character and prior films, Spider-Man: No Way Home emphasizes the core character of Spider-Man and concludes Tom Holland’s Homecoming trilogy on a high note.
No Way Home sees Peter Parker dealing with the fallout of his identity being publicly revealed as Spider-Man at the hands of Mysterio following the events of Spider-Man: Far From Home.
Parker turns to Doctor Strange to cast a spell that will make everyone forget he’s Spider-Man. However, when the spell goes awry, breaking open the multiverse, it’s up to Parker to defeat supervillains from other alternate universes, and learning what it takes to be Spider-Man along the way.
In a post Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame era, Spider-Man: No Way Home is one of the few superhero movies that manages to match, and in some aspects overshadow the ambition of the aforementioned movies. Like Eternals before it, No Way Home comes swooping in and breathes new life into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, something that had largely been lacking in a film slate with generic, straightforward and essentially risk-averse story lines and narratives.
A great mix of both fan service and strong character driven storytelling, No Way Home is one of the best Spider-Man stories put on film to date, at par with 2004’s Spider-Man 2 and 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
Taking a bold, emotional and darker approach to the Spider-Man mythos, the film is still infused with the necessary elements of wonder and joy that audiences have come to associate with the Spider-Man character and films, with director Jon Watts and the screenwriting team of Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers being largely responsible for handling and balancing said tonal shifts in a smooth manner.
Tom Holland shines in what seems to be his strongest portrayal of Spider-Man till date. Enlivening and commanding the film with his central performance, Holland greatly conveys the turmoils his character goes through, as he comes to terms with his “powers and responsibilities” as Spider-Man.
Holland’s performance is complimented by the returning presences of Jamie Foxx, Alfred Molina and Willem Dafoe as Electro, Doctor Octopus and the Green Goblin, respectively. The trio of actors improve, build upon, and (in the case of Dafoe) even surpass prior portrayals of their villainous characters.
Additionally, the performances of Zendaya as MJ, Marisa Tomei as Aunt May and the assured presence of Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange round out the film’s primary cast, providing an element of chemistry that makes the relationships between the characters more believable.
Due credit should also be given to the hard-hitting, brutal and intense fight choreography, amplified by Mauro Fiore’s dynamic cinematography, and Michael Giacchino’s rousing musical score lending the film more depth, character and emotion.
Spider-Man: No Way Home reminds us of the joy and connection that we have with Spider-Man and what it means to be a superhero, and is surely one of Marvel’s strongest efforts in recent years.
Packed to the brim with nostalgia and fan service, Spider-Man: No Way Home also possesses a strong character arc and story line for Holland’s Spider-Man, its bold ending pushing the character and the Marvel Cinematic Universe into new and exciting directions, leaving us hotly anticipated for what lies in store next.
Texts of A Pop Culture Buff 