Spider-Man: Far From Home review

SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME:

SPIDEY GOES TO EUROPE IN THIS FUN FOLLOW-UP!

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: *** ½ out of 4

COLUMBIA PICTURES AND MARVEL STUDIOS

Spider-Man swings back into action in Spider-Man: Far From Home

            Tom Holland (In the Heart of the Sea, Spies in Disguise, Onward) is back as Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Far From Home, the latest installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and follow-up to 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming. I’ve been following the Spider-Man franchise ever since the original film trilogy directed by Sam Raimi and starring Tobey Maguire and have always been open to different interpretations of the Marvel Comics superhero, yes even the Marc Webb/Andrew Garfield films.

            Not counting last year’s animated film, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse which remains the best time I’ve ever had watching a Spider-Man movie, the MCU take on Spider-Man is easily the best live-action adaptation of the character since the Tobey Maguire films. Homecoming was released one year after Captain America: Civil War where Spider-Man officially made his MCU debut and Holland won everybody over with his younger portrayal of Peter Parker/Spider-Man who in the comics has been a metaphor for adolescence so it works and added in fan-favorites like the Vulture and Iron Man and you got a very enjoyable reboot that more than makes up for the disappointing results of The Amazing Spider-Man duo-logy released a few years prior.

            After Homecoming’s critical and commercial success, a sequel was inevitable with Holland reprising his role and director Jon Watts (Cop Car) returning to direct. That’s where Spider-Man: Far From Home comes in which leaves a lot to be desired given that the past Spider-Man sequels have been hit-or-miss, 2004’s Spider-Man 2 with Tobey Maguire was a significant improvement over its predecessor and became one of the best superhero movies and sequels of all time whereas 2014’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2 with Andrew Garfield…not so much. 

            Thankfully Far From Home isn’t like The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and offers a worthy follow-up to Spider-Man: Homecoming that raises the stakes and explores Peter’s commitment to being Spider-Man and his relationships with his friends. While I can’t say it’s Spider-Man 2, it’s still a blast that not only lives up to its predecessor but also surpasses it. 

            After the events of Avengers: Endgame when Tony Stark risked his life to save the universe from Thanos’ wrath, the film follows Peter Parker (Holland) who still mourns over the loss of his former mentor and is under pressure from Spider-Man’s publicity and living up to the expectation of becoming the next Iron Man. Face it, Spidey needs a vacation and that’s exactly what happens as his class leaves on a two-week trip to Europe for summer vacation where he can hopefully tell MJ (Zendaya-Shake It Up, The Greatest Showman, Smallfoot) about his affections for her. 

            However, Peter’s vacation is cut short as he is recruited by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson-Jurassic Park, Pulp Fiction, The Hateful Eight) and Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders-How I Met Your Mother, The Lego Movie 1 and 2, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back) to assist a master of illusion and trickery known as Quentin Beck/Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal-Brokeback Mountain, Prisoners, Nightcrawler) who was also recruited by Fury and Hill to uncover the mystery behind various attacks on the continent caused by giant creatures known as the Elementals and stop them before they cause a major catastrophe on the entire planet.

            In order to stop these monsters from wreaking havoc, Peter must step up from being a superpowered teenage rookie to full-on Avenger so he can prove himself a true hero and honor Tony’s legacy. With the help of his guy in the chair Ned (Jacob Batalon-Every Day, Blood Fest, Let It Snow) and Tony’s noble former bodyguard Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau-Chef, The Jungle Book (2016), The Lion King (2019)), Peter may be up to the challenge and also confess his love to MJ along the way.

            The film also stars Marissa Tomei (Seinfeld, In the Bedroom, Crazy Stupid Love) as Aunty May, J.B. Smoove (Think Like a Man, Top Five, Uncle Drew) as Mr. Dell, Martin Starr (Knocked Up, Adventureland, Silicon Valley) as Mr. Harrigan, Tony Revolori (The Grand Budapest Hotel, Dope, The 5^thWave) as Flash Thompson, and Angourie Rice (The Nice Guys, Every Day, Ladies in Black) as Betty Brant.

            Overall, Spider-Man: Far From Home does what a good sequel is supposed to do, continue the story and give the audience something new that they didn’t see in its predecessor. In this film’s case, taking the Spider-Man action to Europe making it the first Spider-Man movie not to take place entirely in New York City and also expanding on Peter’s reason for being Spider-Man in the first place.

            It shows that Peter has matured as a character since Homecoming and is more than just a fanboy trying to impress Tony Stark. And because there is no Uncle Ben in this universe the death of Tony in Endgame is treated like the MCU version of that tragic incident which makes Peter’s reason to become Spider-Man in these movies a lot stronger than in the first MCU Spidey film where it was simply “I have Tony Stark envy and want to be just like him”.

            There is more substance this time around and you see how being Spider-Man affects Peter emotionally and you understand the struggles he’s going through. Can a sixteen-year-old boy who climbs walls and shoots web possibly fill the shoes of one of the most powerful members of the Avengers? 

            I was invested all throughout the movie even when Spider-Man was out of costume particularly Peter’s relationships with MJ and Mysterio. One of my biggest issues with Homecoming was that the love interest whole portrayed well was rather bland and forgettable, not the case with Zendaya as MJ who’s still just as sarcastic and darkly comical as she was in the last film but she has some genuinely sweet moments with Tom Holland and could give Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone a run for their money in terms of adorableness.

            Let’s take a moment to discuss Jake Gyllenhaal as Mysterio…absolutely flawless and ironic since he was originally considered for the role of Spider-Man in the Sam Raimi trilogy before Tobey Maguire was cast. He’s from another dimension and lost his family to the Elementals and does everything in his power to stop them and shares some wholesome moments with Parker, Gyllenhaal sells every moment of his performance but without giving anything away, I knew what was going to happen with that character after playing the video game based on Spider-Man 2 back in the day, it didn’t ruin the movie for me but it was just noticeable to me.

            Spider-Man: Far From Home delivers an exciting new chapter of the MCU and the best Spider-Man sequel since Spider-Man 2 as well as one of the best Spidey flicks of all time. Suit up, swing on in, and have fun in this web of a movie.