Spider-Man No Way Home Review

Mild Spoiler Warning: I am that guy that watches the first teaser trailer for a movie slated to be released a year later, and then avoids all subsequent trailers and news stories from then on. I get annoyed when the title of an article is itself a spoiler, let alone images posted such as “here you can see (fill in the blank) posing on the red carpet at the movie’s special premiere…” because darn it, even if I skip the article, now I know that (fill in the blank) is IN THE MOVIE! I appreciate that not everyone is as zealous as I am in avoiding spoilers, but just in case, I’m going to try to write this review with as few spoilers as possible.

That said, even stating something like “concerns about the movie having way too many characters are unfounded because everyone has their moment to shine” could be taken as a spoiler, so read my review at your own risk. I will assume that everyone has at least seen the teaser trailers and/or looked up the details about Spider-Man No Way Home, and is aware that is has something to do with Spider-Man’s identity as Peter Parker being revealed to the world at the end of Spider-Man Far From Home (2019), and Parker enlisting the aid of Doctor Strange to cast a spell that will make everyone forget his secret.

DavPoint: Spider-Man No Way Home (NWH) was Directed by Jon Watts and Written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, based on Characters Created for Marvel Comics by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. It was Produced by Kevin Feige, Amy Pascal, Columbia Pictures, Marvel Studios, and Pascal Pictures for Sony Pictures and Distributed by Columbia Pictures (US).

Background: Spider-Man No Way Home stars Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Zendaya as “MJ” Watson, Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange, Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds, Jon Favreau as “Happy” Hogan, and Marisa Tomei as Aunt May. From Sony Picture’s synopsis: “For the first time in the cinematic history of Spider-Man, our friendly neighborhood hero’s identity is revealed, bringing his Super Hero responsibilities into conflict with his normal life and putting those he cares about most at risk. When he enlists Doctor Strange’s 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 will have to overcome his greatest challenge yet, which will not only forever alter his own future but the future of the Multiverse.”

My Experience: I have to say it: “concerns about the movie having way too many characters are unfounded because everyone has their moment to shine!” Tom Holland might not be everyone’s favorite Spider-Man actor (he is mine), but after NWH, I’m sure everyone will at least respect him. Tom carries most of the movie with his effortless charm, but he also stretches to heart wrenching emotional lows when needed, and delivers a truly incredible performance. I daresay it is one of the best performances I’ve seen in 2021, even rivaling Daniel Craig’s final turn as James Bond in No Time to Die. But seriously, everyone is absolutely perfect in this movie, leaving you wanting for nothing!

Director Jon Watts wall-crawls to new heights as one of my favorite directors, as he nimbly mimics his own director style from Spider-Man Homecoming (2017) and Spider-Man Far From Home (2019), which were in their own way mimicking classic 80’s movies like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and the Breakfast Club, and in turn, mimics the styles of Sam Raimi (Spider-Man trilogy, 2002, 2004, and 2007) and Marc Webb (The Amazing Spider-Man 1&2, 2012 and 2015), and ultimately gives the Russo Brothers (Avengers Infinity War, 2018, and Avengers End Game, 2019) a run for their coveted Avengers status. I’m not alone in comparing NWH to End Game, as Spider-Man now has his own epic event movie that will rock the cinematic world for ages to come!

I have to acknowledge the musical artistry of Michael Giacchino, who seamlessly incorporates the themes and styles of Danny Elfman and Hans Zimmer with his own (it probably helps that he also scored the music for the Doctor Strange movie), and the cinematography of Mauro Fiore. I also want to recognize the writers, Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, for building the framework that everything rests on in the first place.

Conclusion: I think that covers it; I can get away with congratulating the cast and crew without spoiling anything, right? To be fair, the basic premise “because, Magic!” is a little bit thin and doesn’t hold up to the toughest scrutiny, but Spider-Man No Way Home is an epic adventure of high stakes and heart, and the themes of second chances are well delivered – even when it all gets a bit meta. Just in case something(s) have been spoiled for you, or you’ve missed a movie or two, rest assured that NWH stands on its performances and doesn’t rely on dramatic reveals or “events” to be fully satisfying!

*Stay tuned for a mid credit scene and a second scene after the credits!

• Director: Jon Watts
• Distributed by: Columbia Pictures
• Starring: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jacob Batalon, and Jon Favreau, with Marisa Tomei
• Rating: PG-13 for sequences of action/violence, some language and brief suggestive comments
• Release Date: December 17, 2021