Spider-Man: No Way Home

Following the overwhelming indifference and underperformance that met Eternals in November, there was growing speculation that superhero fatigue had finally set in. Spider-Man: No Way Home has not only shown that there’s still a hungering appetite for big-screen comic book action, but it also demonstrates that Marvel are still capable of delivering exhilarating set-pieces with high emotional stakes. Without a doubt, No Way Home is their most ambitious outing to date.

Without giving the game away, No Way Home takes place immediately after the events of Far From Home. Tabloid journalist J Jonah Jameson (once again played by JK Simmons) has publicly unveiled Spider-Man’s (Tom Holland) identity, causing his life and those of his closest friends to fall into chaos. In hopes of setting things right, he turns to Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) for some magical assistance. However, the spell goes awry and villains from across the multiverse have found their way into his dimension. It’s therefore up to Peter to find a way to return them to their own realities. 

Seeing the likes of Alfred Molina, Jamie Foxx, and Willem Dafoe reprise their roles from previous Spidey films is a delight. Every returning actor slips back into the role with ease; it’s as if they never left. Foxx’s Electro gets a much-needed overhaul to become a far more interesting antagonist, though it’s Dafoe who once again steals the show with his menacing Green Goblin. The writing team have some fun with these characters interacting, though knowledge of the previous films is required to understand their backgrounds. There’s plenty of great humour here; however, fan service is relied on a little too heavily at times, with some gags running on well after the joke stops being funny.

Amongst everything that’s going on, No Way Home is still fundamentally a Spider-Man film in which Holland is right at the centre. The emotional stakes involved are higher than they’ve ever been, and Holland sells Peter’s journey without missing a single beat. The third entry in this Spider-Man trilogy is the culmination of everything in this character’s journey, and it all lands.

Though the fan service is laid on thick, No Way Home is the ultimate Spider-Man movie that balances eye-widening action and character-driven storytelling to create something that’s nothing short of amazing.

Andrew Murray

Spider-Man: No Way Home is released nationwide on 15^th December 2021.

Watch the trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home here: