Are your Spidey senses tingling? Is there something in the air coming this way? Unless you have been living under a rock in the past year, you know Spider-Man: No Way Home is on its way to theaters this weekend. Any good Marvel fan has already bought their ticket for opening weekend, and, thanks to some surprises, which were teased in the trailers, many are excited to witness the interaction between Spidey and enemies he had no idea even existed.
What does all this mean for Peter Parker (Tom Holland; Uncharted), MJ (Zendaya; The Greatest Showman), and Ned (Jacob Batalon; Avengers: Endgame), not to mention, the Universe? It means there will be consequences (of course!). It also means an entertaining movie with action, humor, and some memorable on-screen moments. While not necessarily the best film of the year, Spider-Man: No Way Home makes up for the technical deficiencies with several surprises along the way.
If you saw the end of Spider-Man: Far from Home, you know Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal; Brokeback Mountain) revealed Peter was the young man behind the web-slinging. With his identity now known, Peter becomes scrutinized as fans and enemies argue whether or not he is a savior or a murderer. However, not only has the breaking news affected Peter but his family and friends as well. Looking for help, he asks Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch; The Imitation Game) to go back in time so no one (well... ALMOST no one) knows he is Spider-Man). Unfortunately, we all know messing with the fabric of time generally doesn't go according to plan and has unintended consequences.
There is an ongoing debate as to who is the best Spider-Man - McGuire, Garfield, or Holland. Some say McGuire because he was the first one of the 2000s. Some think it was Garfield because he seems older and more mature, yet others claim it is Holland because he is not only great as Spider-Man but embodies the essence of Peter Parker. Regardless of your feelings about the debate, there is no denying Holland is a strong candidate for "the best". Of course, he revises his role as the webbed crusader and is rumored to be signing on for numbers four and five. Like Holland, most of the cast returns including Marisa Tomei (My Cousin Vinny) as Aunt May, Zendaya as MJ (and since she and Holland are all but confirmed as a couple in real life, their chemistry is incredible), and Batalon as Peter's best friend while offering moments of comic relief.
While the script is merely ok and the directing is not especially strong, the gems of this movie are the people who unexpectedly pop up from other universes in the Spider-Man stories. Even in an audience full of press, the gasps and cheers were audible making the film even more exciting. This movie is best seen in a theater with lots of other people in the audience as you all share your collective experience as characters show up on the screen. Having those villains in Holland's Spider-man is a treat not to be missed.
The special effects are pretty good but not the best I have ever seen and the jokes bring a lightness to the dark and sinister premise of the film that makes it simply enjoyable. The score is decent but doesn't stand out in either a good or bad way, so it doesn't distract the viewer from the action.
Even if you aren't a fan of Holland's Spider-Man, No Way Home is just pure fun and enjoyment which I'm sure we could all use right about now. Grab your friends, grab your family, heck, grab your enemy and go see Spider-Man: No Way Home this holiday season. You won't regret it!
Grade: A
