Spider-Man: No Way Home
(A- or 3.5/4 stars)
'Spider-Man: No Way Home' (directed by Jon Watts) begins right where the 2019 film left off. Dying evil Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) had just informed the world that Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is Spider-Man, & people around the world are divided over whether or not Peter is a hero or a villain. Driving the villain narrative is online provocateur/conspiracy theorist J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons) & other media outlets, who hound Peter wherever he goes. Things become so bad that Peter & Aunt May (Marisa Tomei, so good) must move. They are taken-in by former Iron Man asst. Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau), but that doesn't last long. Due to Peter's 'bad' name, when he, along with devoted girlfriend MJ (Zendaya) & best buddy Ned (Jacob Batalon), are denied acceptance at M.I.T., he approaches former Avengers team member Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) for help.
Simply put, Peter wants the sorcerer to conjure a spell that would make his identity a secret again ... but this means that no one would remember him; including his loved ones. Peter's constant amendments & backtracking while Dr. Strange performs his wizardry causes multiverse wormholes to rip open, allowing 5 particular super villains from Spider-Man's of yore to enter the current universe. They include: Doctor 'Doc Ock' Octopus (the great Alfred Molina), Electro (Jamie Foxx), Sandman (Thomas Haden Church), Lizard (Rhys Ifans), & most deadly of all, the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe). Chaos ensues, as even former Spider-Men(!) are let-in to this universe (Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield). Tragedy strikes, forcing our current {and devastated} Peter to mature quickly; to this, he calls upon the other Peter's to help him harness those villains, and perhaps, cure them of their adversarial ways.
Sure, this movie offers great action, fan service, nostalgia, & humorous bits ... but its' heartbreaking throughline of grief & anger is what elevates this to a higher level than most other Marvel offerings, short of the last two Avengers films. Despite the high emotions & whizz bang action going on, the plot is fairly simple: Peter & co. cages the 5 villains of old, 'fix' them {or so they thought}, release them {but they wreak havoc}, & try to correct the wrongs that unfold. This movie won't be winning any awards for imaginative screenwriting, but it achieves what it sets out to do. One of the best aspects of this film is the evolution of the relationship btwn. Peter & MJ. Holland & Zendaya are a couple in real life and, they're chemistry is electric.
Tom Holland is friggin' adorable - we all know this. His American accent is as spot-on as always. He is physically nimble, quick-witted & easy-going -- check, check, check. But he is proving with each role what a stellar actor he is as well and, he is called upon to really show those chops on more than one occasion. The vulnerability & varying anguish-filled emotions he must tackle is palpable. Zendaya lends heart & warmth to her brainy MJ. Willem Dafoe is scintillating as the murderous Green Goblin once again; but so too does Dafoe exude humanity in those moments when 'Norman' pokes through. And seeing both Tobey Maguire & Andrew Garfield interplay with Holland during their sequences is AWESOME. Garfield, in particular, is a hoot. And redemption & catharsis arrives for Garfield's Peter in one fleeting moment that succinctly ties-up a lingering heartbreak for that character. It's my favorite moment in a sea of great moments during the movie.
So this film's real superpower is its cast, but I also commend the script for balancing teen soap opera with cosmic catastrophe, the CGI effects, Michael Giacchino's thrilling soundtrack, & the touching finale which highlights self-sacrifice. "With great power comes great responsibility", indeed. You know, it must be said that this film - during a pandemic - has re-ignited the box office during these dismal times when most films barely make a dent. Audiences are showing up, hooting & hollering throughout, and giving it an A+ CinemaScore {which tracks movie-goers' opinions as they leave the theater}. I'm not AS high as that, but I still believe it's an excellent, rousing popcorn flick that absolutely achieves its goal: entertain, and with quality to boot.
Simply put, Peter wants the sorcerer to conjure a spell that would make his identity a secret again ... but this means that no one would remember him; including his loved ones. Peter's constant amendments & backtracking while Dr. Strange performs his wizardry causes multiverse wormholes to rip open, allowing 5 particular super villains from Spider-Man's of yore to enter the current universe. They include: Doctor 'Doc Ock' Octopus (the great Alfred Molina), Electro (Jamie Foxx), Sandman (Thomas Haden Church), Lizard (Rhys Ifans), & most deadly of all, the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe). Chaos ensues, as even former Spider-Men(!) are let-in to this universe (Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield). Tragedy strikes, forcing our current {and devastated} Peter to mature quickly; to this, he calls upon the other Peter's to help him harness those villains, and perhaps, cure them of their adversarial ways.
Sure, this movie offers great action, fan service, nostalgia, & humorous bits ... but its' heartbreaking throughline of grief & anger is what elevates this to a higher level than most other Marvel offerings, short of the last two Avengers films. Despite the high emotions & whizz bang action going on, the plot is fairly simple: Peter & co. cages the 5 villains of old, 'fix' them {or so they thought}, release them {but they wreak havoc}, & try to correct the wrongs that unfold. This movie won't be winning any awards for imaginative screenwriting, but it achieves what it sets out to do. One of the best aspects of this film is the evolution of the relationship btwn. Peter & MJ. Holland & Zendaya are a couple in real life and, they're chemistry is electric.
Tom Holland is friggin' adorable - we all know this. His American accent is as spot-on as always. He is physically nimble, quick-witted & easy-going -- check, check, check. But he is proving with each role what a stellar actor he is as well and, he is called upon to really show those chops on more than one occasion. The vulnerability & varying anguish-filled emotions he must tackle is palpable. Zendaya lends heart & warmth to her brainy MJ. Willem Dafoe is scintillating as the murderous Green Goblin once again; but so too does Dafoe exude humanity in those moments when 'Norman' pokes through. And seeing both Tobey Maguire & Andrew Garfield interplay with Holland during their sequences is AWESOME. Garfield, in particular, is a hoot. And redemption & catharsis arrives for Garfield's Peter in one fleeting moment that succinctly ties-up a lingering heartbreak for that character. It's my favorite moment in a sea of great moments during the movie.
So this film's real superpower is its cast, but I also commend the script for balancing teen soap opera with cosmic catastrophe, the CGI effects, Michael Giacchino's thrilling soundtrack, & the touching finale which highlights self-sacrifice. "With great power comes great responsibility", indeed. You know, it must be said that this film - during a pandemic - has re-ignited the box office during these dismal times when most films barely make a dent. Audiences are showing up, hooting & hollering throughout, and giving it an A+ CinemaScore {which tracks movie-goers' opinions as they leave the theater}. I'm not AS high as that, but I still believe it's an excellent, rousing popcorn flick that absolutely achieves its goal: entertain, and with quality to boot.