MOVIE REVIEW - SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME (2021)

RATED: PG 13

RUNNING TIME: 2 Hour 28 minutes

RELEASE DATE: December 17, 2021

DIRECTOR: Jon Watts

WRITERS: Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers.

CREATED BY: Stan Lee and Steve Ditko

STARRING:

Tom Holland: Peter Parker/Spider-Man

Zendaya: MJ

Benedict Cumberbatch: Doctor Strange

Jacob Batalon: Ned Leeds

Jon Favreau: Happy Hogan

Jamie Foxx: Max Dillon/Electro

Willem Dafoe: Norman Osborn/Green Goblin

Alfred Molina: Dr. Otto Octavius/Doc Ock

Benedict Wong: Wong

Marisa Tomei: May Parker

Andrew Garfield: Peter Parker/Spider-Man

Tobey Maguire: Peter Parker/Spider-Man

SPOILER ALERT. HONESTLY IF YOU HAVEN’T HEARD THAT ALL THREE LIVE ACTION SPIDER-MEN ARE IN THIS MOVIE, YOU ARE SERIOUSLY DISCONNECTED FROM SOCIETY.

Can you believe that Marvel had put out a near perfect super hero movie? Sure we all know that most of their movies are nothing short of bad ass and incredible. But this had to be the most ambitious and risky film they have ever put out aside from Avengers Infinity War and Avengers End Game. I am not going to sugar coat this review with any silly filler because from those I speak to, you either saw the movie or at least saw at least one of the many spoiler filled videos on YouTube.

In my opinion, this movie gave us everything that we could have wanted plus some things that we didn’t know we wanted. Firstly, all of the suits for the characters were just fantastic. From the many suits that ”Tom Spidey” (yes that is how I am going to refer to these Spider-Men for simplicity) had to the updates to Green Goblin and Electro were spot on. They each had an explanation and purpose to aid the story. Great work there.

Doctor Strange was a nice presence in the film as the older hero to “Tom Spidey’s” youth. He brought wisdom to the film but also had a huge learning moment at the end of the film when he realized that “Tom Spidey” was right about helping the villains.

The villains were great and none of them lost their “charm” from their respective franchises. Green Goblin was great to finally see in the MCU especially it being Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin. There character is pure evil. He has no real motive or self important motives. He just wants to destroy everything that he can get his hands on. Doc Ock was a welcome return to the screen and played both sides of the coin masterfully. Electro works better when he isn’t blue. With his obsession of the “different“ power of the MCU, he became power hungry and it worked. The Sandman little on the ehh side. I loved how he only cared about getting back to his universe to get back to his daughter. The father in me felt for him but I feel they could have done more with him. Finally The Lizard was a little of a downer. I wish they did more with him I really do. He could have been a terrifying character if they let him be.

Venom was a let down but only because I hoped for more. I loved the post credits scene but would have appreciated some interaction with any of the Spider-Men. Also I know that Topher Grace’s Venom was a disappointment years ago but there was an opportunity here for Tom Hardy’s Venom to literally eat Topher’s Venom. I would have seriously thrown my money at the screen if I saw that and I know many others would have as well.

Marissa Tomei’s Aunt May will forever be missed as she was a welcomed and celebrated different version of the character. She gave us one last great performance and supported Peter the best she could as she inspired him to do the right thing with the villains. It was definitely unexpected that Green Goblin would kill her but it finally gave us THE LINE in the MCU. Each Spider-Man had to go through that loss and hear those words to truly become the hero they were meant to be. “Tom Spidey” finally gets that. The only difference in that he is already well into his journey as Spider-Man while the other two had to go through it at the beginning.

With that said, let’s talk about the THREE SPIDER-MEN all together in one film. Yes we all felt that this was going to happen. No we did not think that they would be in the movie so long or become an intricate part of the film. “Tobey Spidey” is my Spider-Man from my generation. It was amazing to see him on screen again and made me want more of the Raimi-verse, fingers crossed we get a Sam Raimi lead Spider-Man 4. “Andrew Spidey” was not a stand out to me personally in his movies at the time. I just wanted more “Tobey Spidey” back then. I will admit that Andrew Garfield did not leave anything on the table in this film and made me a fan of his Spider-Man in a way that I wish I was back when he films were hitting theaters. I am on the Amazing Spider-Man 3 bandwagon. Both Spider-Men were important in the film because through their experience and loss, they were able to help “Tom Spidey” greave and be a hero at the same time. Hell, “Tobey Spidey” even helped “Tom Spidey” not become a murderer.

“Tom Spidey” went through a hell of a journey in this film and set the course to become the Spider-Man that the MCU needs him to be. By choosing to allow everyone who loves him to forget Peter Parker to save the multiverse, he sacrificed everything. Then by choosing to not tell MJ and Ned who he is after the spell shows that he is a hero first. The new suit at the end of the film is finally the most comic accurate suit in the MCU that he has ever worn. It shows his growth. I just wish we got to see it a little clearer.

This film was incredible from beginning to end. Not only did I enjoy it but I was also able to share this experience with my daughter. Now all she wants to do is watch Spider-Man. I give Spider-Man: No Way Home a solid 4.5 out of 5. I can’t wait to go back and watch it again to see anything that I missed. If you haven’t seen it, I’m not sorry about the spoilers but still hope you enjoy it.