This Spider-Man: No Way Home review is spoiler-free.
Spider-Man films and the number three have never jived. Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy delivered two all-time great superhero movies. But its third chapter killed off the series with its messy, poorly paced plot and shoehorned villains. Then Sony resurrected the web-slinger for 2012’s The Amazing Spider-Man. And while that initial outing kept cinema-goers happy, its sequel suffered a similar fate to Raimi’s Spider-Man 3. It told a tangled story, featured too many baddies, and attempted to create its own expanded universe without earning it. A third chapter (and even a fourth) were planned, but ultimately canned when Marvel and Sony agreed to bring Spider-Man into the MCU.
For the Spider-Man character, that’s a lot of baggage. And if you’ve been on social media since Alfredo Molina’s Doctor Octopus uttered the words “Hello, Peter”, you’ll know the pressure on Marvel and Sony to deliver an excellent threequel couldn’t have been greater. However, I’m pleased to say they’ve delivered on – and exceeded – my expectations. We finally have a Spider-Man trifecta.
Spider-Man: No Way Home review – Plot
Spider-Man: No Way Home picks up directly following the end of the previous film, Spider-Man: Far From Home. Mysterio and J. Jonah Jameson had just revealed Spider-Man’s identity. Mysterio also framed Spidey for his murder. And this is the foundation from which No Way Home is built. It wastes no time in exploring the impact the revelation has on Peter Parker (Tom Holland) and everyone close to him. Public outrage abound, Peter and co are at a loss at how to quell the anger. And the negative consequences of the big reveal quickly become apparent. At the centre of all this is the developing relationship between Peter and MJ (Zendaya), and it remains a primary focus throughout. It’s believable and helps ground this film in some sense of reality, despite being awash with inexplicable craziness.
As things get worse, a desperate Peter visits Doctor Strange. He asks him to cast a spell that will make everyone forget he’s Spider-Man. The interactions between Peter and Strange were highlights – Strange is clearly fond of Peter and he takes on a mentor-type role in No Way Home. It’s this fondness that causes him to cast the risky spell as requested. But Peter can’t resist demanding changes while Strange is working his magic – and his rash teenage indecisiveness has major implications for the structure of the universe.
Villains
Without divulging too much – and there is a lot I could divulge – it doesn’t take long for familiar faces to start cropping up. As you’ll know from the trailers, Doc Ock (Alfred Molina), Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), Sandman (Thomas Haden Church), Electro (Jamie Foxx), and Lizard (Rhys Ifans) all feature. And as you’d rightly assume, some are far more integral to the story than others. The thinking behind these decisions can likely be attributed to fans preferring the older Spidey villains to the more recent Amazing lot. Having said that, I personally enjoyed Dafoe’s Green Goblin and Foxx’s Electro the most.
Electro’s new look is far superior to his questionable design back in 2014. And Foxx more than made up for The Amazing Spider-Man 2‘s botched characterisation. Conversely, Willem Dafoe as Norman Osbourn had nothing to prove. His go at Green Goblin in 2002’s Spider-Man is as legendary as it was malevolent. In No Way Home, he delivers a performance equally as memorable as his outing 19 years ago – and then some. Goblin is undeniably the ‘big bad’ of the movie, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Dafoe is sinister and unnerving and truly captivating every time he’s on screen. If No Way Home left me wanting anything (and it did in abundance), it was more Green Goblin in MCU Spider-Man films.
Spider-Man: No Way Home review – Multiverse madness
This brings us to the multiverse concept introduced in No Way Home. It’s difficult to explore in any real detail without crossing into major spoiler territory. It ran the risk of over-stuffing the narrative and reducing the plot to base level nostalgia. However, it’s executed to near-perfection. The multiverse allows for moments that fans will never forget. And attention is given to all the right things – the things that will matter most to the audience. There were times I was beaming from ear to ear, full of happiness at what I was watching. That doesn’t happen often. Sure – the film is full of shameless fan service. But viewers will adore the numerous lines of call-back dialogue and subtle acknowledgements of events from alternate Spider-Man universes. Above all, interactions between returning characters are a joy to experience – and there are plenty of those moments to soak in.
Spider-Man: No Way Home moves at a break-neck pace, however. And while that helps drive it forward, it also serves to skim over some of the film’s weightier emotional beats and problem-solving. Make no mistake – this is a far darker film than many will expect. It is very much about Peter’s transformation from a boy into a man. And by drawing on the grit of his forebears to overcome mighty inter-dimensional foes, this version of Peter is perhaps the deepest and most complete we’ve ever seen. But getting him to this point somewhat undermines the stories told in films past. Not least because solutions – which previously would’ve taken entire movies to earn and justify – are realised through convenient narrative leaps.
Spider-Man: No Way Home review – Verdict
Despite some pacing issues, I can’t imagine anyone being disappointed with No Way Home. The past is back, and it’s arguably better than it’s ever been. It’s good fun in its purest form and there’s just so much to love. From countless nostalgia treats to non-stop action and numerous excellent performances from its cast, this latest web-slinging instalment represents the MCU formula perfected. The MCU has struggled to find its footing post-Endgame – but it seems the multiverse provides the most intriguing way forward. And if Holland’s Spider-Man is at the helm – as he rightly should be – the future is surely bright for Disney’s entertainment juggernaut.
Overall Rating: 9/10
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