Spider-Man: No Way Home | Average Guy Movie Review

 

After Quentin Beck (Jake Gyllenhaal) posthumously revealed to the world that he's Spider-Man, Peter Parker (Tom Holland)'s life, and the lives of those around him immediately began to fall apart. In an attempt to put the genie back in the bottle Pete turns to the only person he can... Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch). But things rarely work out for the Web-Head, the way he plans. Now he and the good doctor must deal with the multiverse trying to tear itself apart, not to mention the new friends it has brought them.

Tom Holland's third solo outing as the MCU's Wall-Crawler is his biggest so far, and yet in some ways it still feels like an adventure with our friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man. He may be dealing with bigger and bigger threats, but you can still see him taking the time to help the little people (like the lady who bought him a churro), and a lot of that is thanks to Holland. Whereas with previous versions of Peter Parker it has been a quick transition from teenager to young adult, in the MCU we've had a real chance to watch Pete grow, to see him figure out what it means to be Spider-Man, as well as an Avenger. Even though Pete is no longer looking to someone to tell him what to do, there is still a sense of innocence to Holland's portrayal. He continues to bring out the hope and optimism that Peter Parker is known for, as he desperately tries to do the right thing. Except this time he faces a very different challenge; fame. It may be fun watching Pete try to be Spider-Man when everyone knows who he is - he quickly learns the value of a secret identity - but No Way Home also proves to be an interesting commentary on the dangers of living in a social media world. 

Luckily for Pete he's got some friends to help him out. Teaming him with Doctor Strange is inspired. With Pete really starting to stand on his own two feet, and Strange annoyed at having to explain himself to an argumentative high school student, they quickly form a kind of love/hate relationship, and a comical one at that. As they go about trying to fix the multiverse in very different ways, they inevitably come to blows, and Strange learns that his powers aren't quite so effective on everyone. The fun, of course, doesn't stop there, because Pete has MJ (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Batalon) as back up - as well as a few others. Strange truly is "hilariously outgunned" at times. It really is good to see Ned and MJ take more of an active role after Far From Home, where it felt like they were more along for the ride. Something that Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) unfortunately gets stuck with this time round, although he still gets to be the charmingly loyal friend we know and love. But it's Marisa Tomei who finally gets to play a bigger role, as Aunt May becomes a major influence for Pete and his role as Spider-Man.

What sets No Way Home apart from the rest of the MCU - as you've probably already guessed - are the villains, or at least where they are from. When the first trailer dropped, confirming the appearance of some of Spider-Man's most infamous enemies, and more importantly that the actors who portrayed them in the non-MCU movies would be returning to those roles, excitement and anticipation among fans went into overdrive. Thankfully this did not turn out to be some token gimmick, or a copy of Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse. The reappearance of these villains is not only a lot of fun, but it's oddly satisfying. Jon Watts and his team have not only resurrected them, they allow them to grow, to the point where it's about more than just their villainy. We get to see their inner struggles with who they've become, and the different ways it has affected them. There has always been an element of tragedy surrounding Spidey's foes, and the tearing of the multiverse presents some interesting opportunities, you know, on top of the catastrophe and world-ending danger. 

One thing for which the Web-Slinger can always be counted on however, is some incredibly acrobatic fights - with a few clever quips thrown into the mix - and No Way Home certainly presents him with a diverse range of adversaries to try it out on. The mirror dimension makes for a fun new playground for Spidey, too. But it's not just the fisticuffs that prove entertaining. As the meeting of characters from multiple Marvel universes becomes increasingly mind-boggling, hilarious conversations between heroes and villains ensue. The comparisons alone will make you giggle. It's not all a barrel of laughs however, as the trouble Strange and Pete cause has massive ramifications for the MCU and its future - all of which will undoubtedly be explored in the upcoming Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. For Pete, what begins as an attempt to get his life back becomes a life-changing lesson about sacrifice and putting the welfare of others ahead of our own. Making this his most compelling and emotionally charged adventure so far - although Watts still finds the time to play a few tricks on fans. What feels oddly conclusional for this Spider-Man, also looks to be the start of an exciting new chapter for him. Which hopefully means Tom Holland's web-slinging days aren't over yet.

Spider-Man: No Way Home is an exciting new chapter in the MCU. One that feels oddly like a conclusion and the start of something new, all at the same time. It's an emotionally charged rollercoaster ride with massive ramifications for both Spidey and others, and yet it's still a fun-filled adventure with your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man. 

9.5/10

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