07 Dec Nerdy for Thirty #5: Spider-Man: No Way Home

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME

dir. Jon Watts, starring Tom Holland, Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jacob Batalon, et. al

In Amazing Fantasy issue 15, readers were treated to a red and blue superhero swinging through the air with a man almost casually tucked under his arm as if he were a bag of groceries and thus Spider-Man, the most heavily marketed and beloved superhero of all time was born. Since then, audiences have been treated to seven live action solo films and one brilliant animated movie that took the world by force and introduced viewers to a new type of hero. With Spider-Man: No Way Home, the eighth solo story and the third under the watchful eye of Kevin Feige in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the trilogy of films meant to introduce the avenging neighborhood hero to the universe has landed, with multiverse-spanning ramifications.

Following the events of Spider-Man: Far From Home, and Mysterio’s revelation to the world that Peter Parker is indeed the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Peter is left to deal with the devastating fallout that impacts his personal life. Determined to find a way to fix the situation Aunt May and his friends find themselves in, Peter turns to fellow Avenger Doctor Strange. In attempt to cast a spell meant to wipe the world’s mind of Mysterio’s ousting, Peter’s constant demands of tweaks to the spell cause it to go awry, cracking open the multiverse and allowing foes from former Spider-Man movies to cross over to his own. What ensues is the most entertaining, emotional, and mind-blowingly astonishing Spider-Man adventure to ever be put on screen.

Starring Tom Holland in his sixth appearance as the web head, No Way Home shows the actor back in the ease of a familiar role. After his two subpar films released earlier in the year, Cherry and Chaos Walking, his return to the role he’s helped redefine for a new generation of moviegoers is welcome. In this turn, Holland’s Peter Parker is darker, more desperate than we’ve ever seen him. There’s shades of Return of the Jedi in this film as Peter toys closer to outright villainy than we’ve ever seen on screen (no, whatever that was in Raimi’s Spider-Man 3 aint it). The shades of the old Marty McFly Peter are still present at times, but now Holland has managed to amplify that with levels of conflict, uncertainty, and indecisiveness. For all his character has been through, from ditching out of house parties and homecoming to being exposed to the world to handling grief and loss, it’s time to crown Tom Holland as the superior Spider-Man.

Also starring Zendaya and Jacob Batalon as MJ Watson and Ned Leeds respectively, the two combined with Holland continue to make a delightful grouping when on screen together. Ned’s persistent youthful ebullience and optimism is counterbalanced by MJ’s realist sensibilities with Holland in between. More emotional work is given to both Zendaya (no stranger to drama) and Batalon, both of whom more than rise to the challenge. Revolving in and out of the film is Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Stephen Strange, his first significant screen time since 2018’s Infinity War. Cumberbatch picks up where he last left the character as an arrogant, stubborn man that’s still capable of helping those in desperate need. Strange’s matter-of-fact nature of what needs to be done, and his frustrations with Peter, are played admirably by Cumberbatch, also managing to give more depth to the character.

As for our villains, most are a welcome return to the Spider-Man franchise. Much of the spotlight is given to Doc Ock, Green Goblin, and, surprisingly, Electro. Molina still manages to find facets to the character he played 16 years prior, giving the audience a feeling of the familiar while somehow being different. Doc Ock’s trajectory throughout the film is possibly the most predictable but still entertaining, nevertheless. Jamie Foxx’s Electro is given the most glow up in the film, replacing the ridiculous blue look from Amazing Spider-Man 2 and giving him a more normal, grounded look. Dillon’s quest for power in the film is the stuff of Spider-Man lore and Foxx manages to bring his trademark charm and humor to the role in a way that was sadly restricted in his first outing as the electric villain. Rhys Ifans and Thomas Hayden Church briefly reprise their roles physically as The Lizard and The Sandman, but their contributions are mostly limited to voice work for their respective computer-generated characters. Of all the sinister villains in Spidey’s retinue, these two are mostly given the backseat so the others can develop.

Willem DaFoe as Norman Osborne, the Green Goblin singlehandedly steals every scene he’s in. His ability to shift from contrite to evil and back as easily as changing shirts makes for some the best parts of the movie. It’s easy to see that DaFoe had a blast returning to the character as he cackles, manipulates, and pumpkin bombs his way through the film. This is the Green Goblin die-hard fans have been waiting so long to see on screen: a completely unhinged man whose gleeful desires to ruin Spider-Man’s life in every conceivable way make him one of the most dangerous in his rogue’s gallery.

Directed by Jon Watts, the first MCU director to handle a trilogy from start to finish, Spider-Man: No Way Home demonstrates his ability to balance character and nonstop action. Showcasing everything from amazing set pieces to quieter focus on motivations and desires, Watts and writers Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers manage to pack a lot of wrap up and setup in the film’s lengthy runtime. The unwieldy setup for the initial act is the film’s weakest point; while it all makes sense and moves along at a somewhat decent pace, the second act is where the pacing finds its footing and swings its way to the bombastic end. Amazing visual effects (expected when Doctor Strange is in the mix) and dynamic cinematography help to lend to both the fantasy elements, such as the Mirror Dimension, and the realism, like watching Peter websling. Watts has fully proven himself capable of handling large budgets and giant franchises, impressing the powers-that-be at Disney enough to give him the reigns to the upcoming Fantastic Four movie. It seems, as far as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, director Jon Watts is here to stay.

Proper respects must also be given to composer Michael Giacchino’s score. Giacchino has not so quietly become a leading figure in the world of cinematic composers, thanks to his work first on Lost and Incredibles before moving onto Star Trek and Jojo Rabbit. Here on No Way Home, Giacchino’s music manages to rip the heart out of the audience just as often as it thrills and electrifies. His rousing action horns and quieter strings interweave to create a sensational work of art that is just as powerful as Watt’s direction.

Ultimately, Spider-Man: No Way Home wraps up a solid trilogy of movies in ways that are sure to delight, shock, and amaze. Tom Holland’s electric performance, counterbalanced by Cumberbatch’s stern, pragmatic nature makes for a great chemistry between the two that swings between playful charm and downright antagonistic. With a number of surprises, cheer worthy moments, and true anguish, Jon Watt’s handling of the material makes the 148 minutes breeze by after the clunky setup of the first act. A testament to the staying power of the MCU, Disney continues to find new ways to subvert expectations and swing for the fences.

Review by Darryl Mansel