The new and improved Spider-Man. Photo courtesy of Newsrama.
This is a SPOILER FREE Review.
Coming off of Avengers: Endgame, it’s hard to imagine how Mavel could possibly live up to what they delivered it’s audiences back in May. A huge sprawling finale that was a culmination of over a decade of films—needless to say, it’s a hard act to follow. If anyone could shoulder that responsibility however, it would be Spider-Man.
The events of Endgame play a huge role in the proceedings for Spidey’s next adventure (and if for some reason you have still not seen that film, then I’d suggest skipping this paragraph). The world is a different place. If you’re worried about the film ignoring that, you can rest at ease. A post snap world is very cleverly explored, and somehow manages not to detract from the wider Spider-Man story at play. The aftermath of the snap isn’t the only thing that the world is reeling from. The impact of Tony Stark’s death is seen and get everywhere. None more so than with Peter Parker himself, who is know facing the reality of filling the void left behind in Iron Man’s absence.
Peter meets Mysterio. Photo courtesy of Newsrama.
I know many people like to complain about MCU’s Spidey relying on Iron Man too much. This film takes those complaints and tackles that idea head first. A core strength of the film is the thematic focus on the ideas that come with Peter grappling with who is his. Peter is feeling pressured by the world to fill that void left by Stark. But is Peter the next Iron Man, or is he simply Spider-Man? Is Peter now forced into dealing with things on a global and political scale, rather than just “neighborhood things”? All of this is explored fantastically throughout the film. Far From Home is about Peter, and his alter ego Spider-Man, coming into their own—and it’s done flawlessly.
As you’d expect, Tom Holland once again completely nails the role. It’s a complete and utter joy to watch him navigate his high school life as Peter Parker, and then have to save the world as Spider-Man. His life as Spider-Man however is one he wants a much deserved break from. The film begins with him wanting to go on his class trip and to simply live his high school life without having to worry about superhero shenanigans. It reminds me of the famous storyline “Spider-Man: No More”, yet presented in a remixed and fresh way.
The brand new Stealth Suit. Photo courtesy of Newsrama.
The film surprisingly spends a lot more time with Peter and his classmates than you’d think. Don’t get me wrong, that’s a great thing. We get to know more about the smaller characters, and spend time with them. This helps us live in Peter’s world, and get to connect with the people in his life. A lot of the humor presented in the film comes from his time next to his classmates. Humor is still an integral part of any Spider-Man outing, and this film is no exception. A great balance of both comedy and emotional weight is achieved by director John Watts, and it’s a joy to witness.
One of the star elements of the entire film is easily Jake Gyllenhaal’s portrayal of Mysterio. The grandiose personality of Quentin Beck is very much present, as are the subtle nuances that Jake Gyllenhaal adds to the proceedings. Personally, Mysterio is one of my favorite villains in Spidey’s massive rogue gallery, so to see him be done with such accuracy and justice is honestly a dream come true. It’s hard to talk about his role in the film without hitting upon spoilers, but needless to say fans of the character will not be disappointed. I have to point out that Mysterio’s costume is hands down one of the best designed adaptations of a suit that the MCU has ever done. It is a masterful piece of art.
The one and only Mysterio. Photo courtesy of Newsrama.
What about the other MCU guest stars you may ask? Well the stand out performance for me was Happy Hogan. Even after the half dozen films that we’ve seen him in, he only grows stronger as a character. He has one of his biggest roles yet in this film. The dynamic between Happy and Peter is fantastic, and it’s something I hope to see continue down the road. Along with Happy, both Nick Fury and Maria Hill play a role in Spidey’s summer vacation. I can’t really touch upon them much, but their appearances certainly aren’t wasted. As for if there are any other cameos, I guess you’ll just have to watch the film to find out.
Marvel has knocked it out of the park once again. Spider-Man: Far From Home is the best Spidey film yet, and also one of the MCU greats. Not only does the film make for a great solo adventure, but it stands tall as an incredible epilogue to the end of this MCU era. Make sure you guys stay for the after credits scenes, because they are quite the game changers. Also, what kind of uncultured people leave before the credits of a Marvel film are done anyhow?
Bonus Notes:
- There is a sequence about 2/3’s into the film that is easily one of the best in all of the MCU. One that will surely bring the biggest grin to any Spidey fan’s face.
- The Special Effects at play at points within the film are simply stunning. Yes—there are scenes, like any film, where the SFX may look questionable. But then there are those that make your jaw drop, and you simple forget about those questionable occurrences.
- I raved about Mysterio’s suit, but Marvel yet again does a fantastic job with Spider-Man’s many suits. The Stealth suit also has one of the best hero introduction shots yet.
- The score is something often complained about when it comes to the MCU. However, Marvel has another win here when it comes to that department. There’s a new theme that plays for Mysterio that really had me pumped.
