SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME
2021 | Dir. Jon Watts | 148 Minutes
2021 | Dir. Jon Watts | 148 Minutes
"That's what we do."
After Peter Parker's double life as Spider-Man is revealed to the world, disrupting the lives of Peter and his loved ones, Peter seeks aid from Dr. Strange in hopes that magic would solve his problems. Peter's troubles are only compounded when he inadvertently causes Strange to botch the casting of a spell, and visitors from other worlds of the multiverse emerge intending to do harm to Peter Parker.
Jon Watts' Spider-Man: No Way Home kicks off directly after the cliffhanger ending of his previous film, thoroughly demonstrating all of the frustrating repercussions suffered by Peter Parker and those closest to him due to his new status not only as a public figure but also an accused murderer. However, soon after its opening act, the picture quickly becomes an exceptionally satisfying epilogue to Sam Raimi's Spider-Man Trilogy starring Tobey Maguire as well as Marc Webb's pair of Amazing Spider-Man movies starring Andrew Garfield. Resurrecting the headlining villains from each of those five films through mystical multiversal shenanigans, the feature gives each of these antagonists more closure than the deaths that previously concluded their character arcs. The innate good nature and desire to help those in need within Tom Holland's Peter Parker are tested like never before as his attempts to save this colorful assortment of rogues from certain doom, against the wishes of Dr. Strange and perhaps against better judgment, leads to the greatest personal loss Peter has ever suffered. Luckily, this Peter Parker isn't alone as a duo of familiar variants, webslinging heroes who truly understand the plight of Spider-Man better than anyone in his universe, arrive in his darkest hour to guide him through his grief and ultimately help him become the best version of themselves. The emotional impact of this film is simply extraordinary and the metatextual commentary on the relationship between the previous live action Spider-Man films and the Marvel Studios films is, in a word, mind-blowing. While there is no formal recap for any of these extra-dimensional Spider-Bros and Spider-Foes, even audiences who aren't familiar with their previous adventures are given enough context to understand and appreciate what they represent.
Spider-Man: No Way Home is a visual treat from start to finish. The big set pieces that involve magic are at least as trippy as the ones featured in Doctor Strange, notably a psychedelic chase and battle between Peter Parker and Dr. Strange in the Mirror Dimension and the horrifying moments that show the seams of the multiverse coming apart. The more grounded action sequences are entertainingly staged and rendered as well. Memorably, Otto Octavius and his iconic metal tentacles arrive in an exciting fight on a highway bridge, while Max Dillon and Flint Marko meet a Peter Parker they never knew in a dazzling electrical night time battle in a forest. The high-flying action-packed finale at the Statue of Liberty undergoing an MCU makeover is full of thrilling twists and turns as the trio of Spider-Men work together to heal their enemies or die trying.
Delivering a nuanced and devastating performance, Tom Holland has never been more moving in the role of Peter Parker as his character loses so much that is dear to him by the time the credits role on this film. Andrew Garfield is as charming as ever in the same-but-different role, funny and very personable but exuding a different variation of heartbreak all the same as his Peter Parker still suffers from the loss of his one true love. Tobey Maguire still gives off a pleasant humility, presenting a soft-spoken air of decency that's unique to his take on Peter Parker. The interactions between the three Peters are often hilarious but always emotionally resonant.
Willem Dafoe shines as Norman Osborn, skillfully walking the tightrope of being convincingly sympathetic and pitiable but also deceptive and just straight up wicked. Elevating the role with real gravitas as he did eighteen years prior, Alfred Molina's indignant mad genius Otto Otavius remains one of the very best Spider-Man film villains. Jamie Foxx's Max Dillon receives a much deserved visual and personality makeover as Foxx plays a markedly funnier and more menacing evolution of his character from The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Though rendered as CGI creatures for most of the film, Rhys Ifans reprises his role as the Lizard Dr. Curt Connors from The Amazing Spider-Man and Thomas Haden Church returns as the Sandman Flint Marko from Spider-Man 3.
Returning as MJ, Zendaya thrives as the role grows into a more full-fledged character. Jacob Batalon's Ned is more amusing than ever as Batalon gets to show off more of his comedic talent with Ned developing unexpected magical powers. Unbelievably warm and soulful, Marisa Tomei firmly establishes her position as the best cinematic Aunt May. Making his latest appearance as Stephen Strange, Benedict Cumberbatch essentially makes an extended cameo appearance as the cranky impatient voice of reason.
As both a significant turning point in the ongoing narrative of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Peter Parker and a metatextual work that fascinatingly examines every live action Spider-Man film since 2002, Spider-Man: No Way Home is miraculously a total triumph. Not only does it pack all of the humor and spectacle that Spidey fans would expect, the feature is also a deeply affecting, surprisingly intimate film that places Peter Parker's empathy as a hero front and center. At its core, Tom Holland's third solo outing as Peter Parker pulls no punches exploring the inherent tragedy of being Spider-Man.
MID-CREDITS STINGER
Otherworldly visitors Eddie Brock and the alien symbiote attached to him known as Venom (Tom Hardy) learn about the super-beings inhabiting this world and recent universe-shaking events from a Mexican bartender. Just as Eddie decides to travel to New York City to meet Spider-Man, Dr. Strange's spell transports him back to his world but not before he leaves behind a piece of symbiote.
POST-CREDITS STINGER
A teaser for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
FRAGMENTS
- With Vincent D'Onofrio's Wilson Fisk appearing on Disney+'s Hawkeye and Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock appearing in this film, both having first appeared in these roles on Netflix's Daredevil (which may or may not be considered official MCU canon), I sure hope Jon Bernthal eventually returns as Frank Castle
- Tough he isn't in this film for more than a quick scene, I just love how Wong is revealed to be the current Sorcerer Supreme post-Blip
- Tobey Maguire and Tom Holland's Peter Parkers insisting that Andrew Garfield is an "amazing" Spider-Man is hysterical, as are Andrew Garfield and Tom Holland's Peter Parkers astonishment about Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker's organic webbing
- The scope of Michael Giacchino's score for this film is totally bonkers in the best way, featuring his own Spider-Man and Doctor Strange themes as well as themes composed by Danny Elfman for Sam Raimi's Spider-Man and James Horner for Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man
- Max Dillon's quip regarding the potential existence of a black Spider-Man out there is a not-so-subtle but crowd-pleasing reference to Miles Morales, prominently featured in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and its sequels
- It's unclear why Tom Hardy's Eddie Brock from Sony Pictures' Venom films was drawn into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as only those who knew Spider-Man's true identity as Peter Parker were summoned by the botched magic spell though it's possible the Venom symbiote attached to him carries knowledge that transcends the multiverse
- Cristo Fernández who portrays Dani Rojas on Apple TV+'s Ted Lasso was a welcome sight as Tom Hardy and Venom's scene partner in the mid-credits stinger
