Since 1992
Print and digital marketing
Spider-Man: No Way Home
(Columbia Pictures/Marvel Studios)
By Lucas Allen
If there’s ever a Marvel character with the most endearing cinematic legacy right next to Batman from DC, it’s Spider-Man. First created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko sixty years ago for Amazing Fantasy #15, the character has been played on screen by multiple actors, faced many villains and webbed up billions at the box office. In its current iteration in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the character faced high school, went to space, and teamed up with the Avengers. But in “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” which is the third film in the Jon Watts-directed MCU trilogy, he takes part in the biggest and most personal adventure yet.
Life hasn’t gotten any easier for Peter Parker (Tom Holland) since his superhero identity was exposed in front of the entire world. He, his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) and Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) moved to Long Island to avoid the press, while he, his girlfriend MJ (Zendaya), and best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon) couldn’t get into any college because of the controversy. Out of options, Peter turns to the Sorcerer Supreme Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) to help cast a spell to make everybody forget he is Spider-Man. But when the spell gets botched, it somehow creates a temporal wormhole letting in those from the multiverse who faced New York’s friendly-neighborhood superhero in the past.
The first one out of the gate is Dr. Octopus (Alfred Molina from “Spider-Man 2”) battling Peter on the New Haven bridge. After Strange captures The Lizard (Rhys Ifans from “The Amazing Spider-Man”), he instructs Spidey to capture the remaining villains Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe from “Spider-Man”), Electro (Jamie Foxx from “The Amazing Spider-Man 2’), and Sandman (Thomas Haden Church from “Spider-Man 3”). Although Strange has the power to send the villains back to their respective universes, Peter has a change of heart and wants to help cure the men of their evil ways much to the sorcerer’s objections. But alas, circumstances keep occurring that put Spidey in the middle of the battle of the multiverses.
Without a doubt, this movie is the biggest big screen reunion of memorable characters since the recent Star Wars films. Fans of the character’s previous films as well as the MCU will be delighted to see the current Spider-Man interact with past villains with a great mix of delightful comedy and emotional drama. The movie also cleverly adds pathos to the bad guys and their own situations giving the audience a chance to feel that emotional connection they haven’t felt before. It’s a testament to screenwriters Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers for giving these classic bad guys another chance to shine on screen.
There are other surprises that abound in this movie, including re-appearances of other characters you never expected to see let alone in the same universe. For a movie featuring the multiverse, it creates endless possibilities that future Marvel movies could explore. The action scenes look spectacular including a brilliant mid-movie chase through the mirror dimension. The final battle on the Statue of Liberty is satisfying despite looking too chaotic at times. As for the emotional stakes, it’s certainly felt higher especially for the main characters than in this past year’s Marvel movies.
In his sixth movie appearance, Holland continues to bring emotional growth to the character that past Spider-Men Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield would be proud of. Other returning actors Zendaya, Batalon, Tomei, Favreau and especially Cumberbatch bring levity to their performances more than ever. Seeing the actors returning to their villainous roles is sure to be the film’s greatest highlight, where they all have the terror and humor to spare. J.K. Simmons returns to his most iconic role as J. Jonah Jameson as a conspiracy-pushing newscaster rather than the newspaper editor from the Sam Raimi trilogy. He still does a good job, but sadly lacks the hilarious one-liners of those previous films.
“Spider-Man: No Way Home” is easily the year’s best superhero movie as well as the best Marvel movie of the year. It makes bold choices as well as offer great nostalgia for the main character for fans older than 30. From beginning to end (including after the end credits), it’s the motion picture gift that keeps on giving.
THE MOVIE’S RATING: PG-13 (for sequences of action/violence, some language, and brief suggestive comments)
THE CRITIC’S RATING: 4 Stars (Out of Four)
