SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME
Starring: Tom Holland, Benedict Cumberbatch, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Jon Favreau, Alfred Molina, Willem Dafoe, Jamie Foxx, Benedict Wong, Tony Revolori, Marisa Tomei, Angourie Rice
Director: Jon Watts
QUENTIN
It’s damn near perfect.
That’s it. That’s the review.
NICK
Marvel had a tough task ahead of it with this film. Anticipation was through the roof due to casting rumours, and it had to contend with what’s been a lackluster start to Phase 4. All of that considered, this is a difficult film to critique. Fan service and nostalgia aside, it’s an authentic Spider-Man story, blending the right recipe of electric action sequences and grounded humour that the franchise is known for. It’s also a great chapter in the arc of Peter (Tom Holland) and MJ (Zendaya), which is easily the MCU’s best love story. Kudos all around.
JACOB
No Way Home finds the MCU back in fine form after suffering a misstep with Eternals. But while the film succeeds in its execution, it lacks some of the other Spidey films’ storytelling efficiency. In trying to do so much all at once, the story stretches itself a little thin, filling the space with either jokes or fan service – both of which work – but mostly at a surface level. That said, this is certainly more cohesive and fun than Far From Home, the heart on its sleeve is palpable, and it’s far more emotional than I was expecting.
ADRIANO
No Way Home is a Spider-Man movie that delivers in every way it possibly could have. While the narrative struggles a bit in the first act, it somehow is able to walk the line between coming-of-age story and superhero epic, resulting in a movie that is both badass and sweet. It has a surprising amount of heart to it too, with some moments being truly emotional, and while there is a lot of fan service, it never once felt like it was there for its own sake. All said and done, it’s an incredible movie.
PAIGE
Dude… No Way Home swings headfirst into the multiverse as possibly one of the greatest entries in the MCU! The film has some predictable moments and could have been a bit more suspenseful, but it’s full of heart and emotion. It’s also epic to see Willem Dafoe, Alfred Molina, and Jamie Foxx back as the OG villains, forcing MCU Peter (Tom Holland) to confront a past that’s not his. Oh, and let’s not forget that director Jon Watts makes his strongest entry yet behind the camera! Whichever universe you are from, never forget that with great power comes great responsibility.
AMARÚ
Given the hype and expectations, you enter No Way Home anticipating the weightiness of Endgame, but are quickly reminded that everyone involved has a strong handle on this Spiderverse’s identity. The coming-of-age approach that carried the series’ first two films is refined to produce the grandest, yet most personal, MCU-Spidey story, not to mention Tom Holland’s best performance as Peter Parker. Yes, there is plenty of fan service, but every bit is earned with paralleled emotional weight. This is easily a Top 5 MCU film and arguably the coolest Marvel movie ever made.
JOSEPH
There’s little more I can say about Marvel’s newest Spider-Man film other than it’s pretty great! It’s hard to go into detail as to why it’s one of the MCU’s best without delving into spoiler territory, but while it may be grandiose and epic, there are also plenty of personal and grounded stakes as well. The humor and in-jokes can be a little tacked on at times, but it’s never too distracting. Thanks to some daring and bold choices, Tom Holland and Marvel have Spider-Man fully realized in this film, further showing their ability to blend spectacle with meaningful stories.
