I’m at a point to where Tom Holland naturally feels like Spider-Man to me. In spite of Far From Home being only his second movie in a starring role as Marvel’s iconic hero, it’s his fifth go-around as Peter Parker thanks to all of the Avengers-related business he’s gotten up to since 2016. As much as I enjoyed aspects of Andrew Garfield’s and Tobey Maguire’s versions, Holland so far has been the Parker that’s felt the most consistent to the “awkward genius teen crimefighter” archetype that various writers have been envisioning Spider-Man as, and this movie allows him to show off the character’s humor, angst, and heart without any element overcrowding the others.
Jon Watts is back as director from Homecoming, and in the wake of some sweeping changes throughout the MCU, he’s portraying Peter not just mourning his late mentor Tony Stark/Iron Man, but also wanting to find a sense of normalcy after the whirlwind of Endgame, hoping to get close to Zendaya’s MJ during a class European vacation. Spoiler alert: he doesn’t find it.
Following a humorous, low-quality YouTube tribute to fallen Avengers set to Whitney Houston, the writers get some surprisingly fun comedy about displaced students after being snapped from existence by Thanos for five years, known publicly as “The Blip”. Among those returned is Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury, who wants Spider Man’s help in fighting mysterious elemental monsters appearing throughout Europe coincidentally, and doesn’t have any time for Peter’s teenage high school concerns. Marisa Tomei’s Aunt May thought ahead enough to luckily pack his Spider-suit in his suitcase, and Jon Faverau’s Happy Hogan, not only because of his crush on May, isn’t far behind to help him.
A strange warrior named Quentin Beck (Jake Gyllenhaal), later dubbed by the media as “Mysterio”, explains the Elementals to Spider-Man as the creatures who destroyed his home planet. He and the rest of the SHIELD team entrust him with Tony Stark’s high-tech “E.D.I.T.H” glasses (the meaning of the acronym is hilarious), which are used for an entertaining sequence involving missiles and a rival boy interested in MJ.
I can’t explain in perfect detail how great Gyllenhaal’s performance as Mysterio is without giving away too much of the plot. But I can imply how good he is at gaining the audience’s and Spider-Man’s sympathies, and then evolving his character to a position that enhances the story and leads to an exciting climax that most of the better Spider-movies are known for.
But it’s things like the E.D.I.T.H glasses that may leave some fans asking, how closely does Spider-Man really need to be still tied to Tony? As far as the narrative the filmmakers are pushing, we’re seeing Parker take influence from Stark’s legacy to improve his own technical talents and inspiration.
Still, Robert Downey Jr’s portrayal of Iron Man was so memorable that I can forgive Marvel Studios a little for still feeling the sting of his absence. We’re just now entering the next phase of this serial, so it’s going to take some time for the landscape to start looking significantly different- particularly once the next batch of new characters are introduced.
But keep in mind, this is a Spider-Man movie first and foremost, and a generally entertaining one throughout most of it. Holland has an affably heroic charm whether he’s making awkward talk with Zendaya’s sassy MJ (who is one of the smarter characters in the film, and feels more like a friend than a generic damsel), bantering with Jacob Batalon’s Ned or swinging and kicking ass in a variety of different Spider-Man costumes- his classic outfit, the Iron-Spider suit, a sleek new navy blue-version and a stealth costume that has locals dubbing him “Night Monkey”.
Some of the CGI, especially on the elementals, can feel a bit cluttered in spots. But in terms of action, there’s a good balance of screen time between both his civilian and superhero affairs, all accompanied by another one of Michael Giacchino’s great scores.
Ultimately, Spider-Man: Far From Home is one of the breezier MCU movies, as was Homecoming, and one that feels like a refreshing cooldown from the emotionally heated Endgame in the same vein that last year’s Ant-Man & the Wasp felt from Infinity War. Watts’ Spider-movies have their own distinct identity in the same way that Sam Raimi’s and Marc Webb’s did, and it’s generally less focused on melodrama and more the fantastical and lighter-hearted elements of Spider-Man’s universe.
Whichever one is best is something people will have different answers on, but I felt this movie was a fun tribute to the franchise. Do not miss either of the post-credit scenes, because they’ve got huge implications for both Spider-Man and the entire MCU altogether. If you’ve swung down to your local theater and brought a ticket, head to @Official_FAN on Twitter as always and tell us how you felt!