Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) - SPOILER-FREE Review
/
Directed by: Jon Watts
Written by: Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers
Starring: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jacob Batalon, Jon Favreau, Marisa Tomei
Runtime: 148 min
Synopsis: For the first time in the cinematic history of Spider-Man, our friendly neighborhood hero's identity is revealed, bringing his superhero responsibilities into conflict with his normal life and putting those he cares about most at risk. When he enlists Doctor Strange's (Benedict Cumberbatch) help to restore his secret, the spell tears a hole in their world, releasing the most powerful villains who've ever fought a Spider-Man in any universe. Now, Peter (Tom Holland) will have to overcome his greatest challenge yet, which will not only forever alter his own future but the future of the Multiverse.
Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) already possesses 26 films in its repertoire, being Spider-Man: No Way Home the 27th installment. Due to the enormous fandom, some movies receive a tremendous amount of hype, especially those that gather more than just one beloved superhero. The Avengers flicks usually generate more excitement before the premiere, but films such as Captain America: Civil War also reached those levels of great anticipation. However, considering that Infinity War and Endgame occupy the top spots regarding this topic, No Way Home joins them by creating a whole new type of enthusiasm due to the once-in-a-lifetime possibility of seeing all of the live-action Spider-Men - and their villains - together on the big screen.
Of course, I'll keep this review free of spoilers, as always. I won't even give hints as to what happens or not. Eventually, I might add some spoilery thoughts at the bottom of the article, but only after next week. However, I will obviously take into account what is shown in the first trailer, as well as the clear synopsis. Unless you're 100% clueless about what this movie is about, this is a safe place for someone eager to watch one of the most anticipated films of the famous studio's universe. Let's not be hypocritical. Everyone knows the main question surrounding this movie concerns the potential appearance of Andrew Garfield (tick, tick...BOOM!) and/or Tobey Maguire (Spider-Man 1, 2, 3) as their respective versions of Peter Parker. Not only I'll ignore this topic, but I'll also avoid getting into detail about the villains.
In fact, I'll start precisely with the "bad guys", so I can move on from dangerous territory. One of my main concerns regarding No Way Home was its number of villains, as well as their screentime and narrative impact/significance. I would feel extremely disappointed if someone like Alfred Molina (Frozen II) or Willem Dafoe (The Card Counter) - who reprise their roles as Doc Ock and Green Goblin, respectively - showed up for a couple of minutes and quickly vanished into thin air. Thankfully, Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers (Spider-Man: Far From Home) come up with a surprisingly coherent, clever screenplay that allows the villains to often steal the spotlight by having more than just a nostalgic purpose.
Of all the jaw-dropping plot developments, the most shocking aspect is how vital the villains actually are to Peter's arc and the overall story. Of course, some stand out more than others. Personally, Dafoe delivers such a menacing, haunting performance that I won't disagree if someone awards him the MVP prize. Every single second with Norman Osborn / Green Goblin is incredibly captivating. Mesmerizing, even. In a film that still carries the formulaic Marvel humor - something that's becoming more and more frustratingly annoying - Dafoe brings never-seen-before darkness to this new Spider-Man saga. A ruthless, cruel interpretation that adds a lot of emotion to the overall piece.
Molina comes as a "close second", offering yet another outstanding performance that I couldn't take my eyes off-screen. Might as well write it already: the entire cast delivers absolutely phenomenal performances! From Jamie Foxx (Soul) to Marisa Tomei (The King of Staten Island), without forgetting Zendaya (Dune), Benedict Cumberbatch (The Power of the Dog), and even Jacob Batalon (Spider-Man: Homecoming), everyone shines in their own time. The action in the MCU has never been as visibly violent as in this movie. Doc Ock and Green Goblin make Spider-Man hurt a lot, and viewers will definitely feel his pain in one of the darkest, saddest Spider-Man entries to date.
No Way Home boasts some of the best Spidey-action ever put to screen. A mind-blowing mirror dimension fight between Dr. Strange and Spider-Man, and the entirety of the cathartic, nerve-wracking, emotionally satisfying final battle come to mind as my favorite sequences involving the Web-Slinger. Entertainment-wise, Jon Watts (MCU's Spider-Man) offers what most viewers desire when entering the theater for an MCU flick. However, the first half feels a bit messy, moving around between uninteresting side stories that create some pacing issues. The introductions to each villain are quite time consuming, and not all feel as worth investing as others. Nevertheless, my main issue connects to something I don't often complain about in the MCU.
I'm not one of those viewers who can't stand Marvel humor, much on the contrary. I never left an MCU film without letting go of a few good laughs and chuckles, so obviously, No Way Home holds some genuinely funny moments, especially when characters from other universes interact with each other. However, the typical issue of placing jokes during or right after a dramatic moment remains. Fortunately, it doesn't hurt any major scenes, but it still detracts from the overall experience. In the end, it's a matter of how much each viewer can stand and also how well the latter half of the movie compensates for these admittedly minor problems. Since I can't really delve into the narrative, I must at least address Tom Holland as Peter Parker.
This is not only Holland's best portrayal of Spider-Man, but it may very well be the actor's career-best display. I'm not sugarcoating anything when writing that No Way Home left me completely drained of emotions. It follows a powerful story focused on a complex protagonist who's struggling to deal with having his friends and family constantly in danger, but also with himself. From identity and confidence issues to learning his bigger responsibilities, Peter deals with more heavy stuff in this film than in the other two combined. Zendaya's portrayal of a more sarcastic MJ has been a favorite of mine in this new franchise, but the actress truly demonstrates her immense talent and range for the first time in this trilogy.
Looking back, I expected the vast majority of the significant developments. Even the two post-credits scenes address what I anticipated, but I still found myself completely immersed in the movie. I still felt surprised, shocked, and excited. I still got goosebumps - honorable mention to Michael Giacchino's fantastic score. I still cried! In my opinion, this proves how exceptionally executed, directed, and written No Way Home really is. Viewers can expect anything and everything. It will still be an unforgettable experience that fans will undoubtedly love. I'd have to rewatch all of the Spider-Man films to have a fair, personal ranking, so let's drop the comparisons for now and enjoy this latest flick for as long as possible.
Final Thoughts
Spider-Man: No Way Home is one of the darkest, saddest, emotionally draining entries in the MCU, surpassing all of my expectations. Despite a messy, convoluted first half with some pacing issues and occasionally frustrating, poorly placed humor, Jon Watts, Chris McKenna, and Erik Sommers more than compensate these minor issues with some of the best (and brutally violent) Spider-Man action ever witnessed on screen. In addition to this, the surprisingly coherent narrative packs shocking developments and actually offers enough screentime for the villains to significantly impact Peter Parker's arc. Unbelievably outstanding performances from everyone involved, especially Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Willem Dafoe. A heartfelt, nostalgic homage to the Spider-Man legacy that fans will rewatch countless times, laughing and crying along for many more years to come. A memorable, passionate, once-in-a-lifetime cinematic experience.
