I am almost glad I am writing a spoiler filled review for Spider Man- No Way Home, because the comic book nerd inside of me is still buzzing with the sheer adrenaline rush of having seen a great superhero movie. But herein lies the clincher- No Way Home doesn’t just appeal to ardent fans of the comic books, the MCU, or superhero movies in general; it is for everyone who just wants to have a good time at the cinemas.
In case it wasn’t clear already, this one is going to be a spoiler filled review, so for those who haven’t seen it yet, please find a theatre near you, and catch the movie as soon as you can. And then come back and this read this review. Go on, I’ll wait.
Good, you’re back. Wasn’t this the most fun you had in a cinema hall in ages?
To review Spider Man No Way Home in isolation is a futile exercise, as all the movies in the MCU are intricately connected via a common thread. While some of the latest offerings (Black Widow and Eternals specifically) get bogged down by the pressure of the shared universe, No Way Home shines both as an MCU offering, and as a standalone superhero film. Let me explain how.
Over the course of years, Marvel Cinematic Universe, or the MCU as we better know it, has come to be known for its inimitable wit, moments of dry humor interspersed with VFX fight fests. No Way Home does deliver on those expectations- especially through the likes of secondary players like Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch, show stealer as always) and MJ (a striking Zendaya). Even when things take a dark turn, like the death of someone close to Peter Parker/Spider Man (Tom Holland), the screenplay doesn’t brood for too long, instead focusing on the superhero side of things.
And that’s not all, the screenplay has enough for even a casual Marvel fan- especially the (re) appearance of previous Spider Men (and their villains). Their chemistry is crackling- especially considering none of the three men donning the red and blue costume have had any experience of working with one another in the past. Andrew Garfield, especially, is amazing (see what I did there?) in his extended cameo.
The beauty of No Way Home lies in the fact that even if one hasn’t seen EVERY movie in the MCU to this point, they will still be able to enjoy the movie. That’s what a superhero movie was supposed to be, till it became too technical for the casual fan, and super rewarding for the nerd. For example, even if you are not aware of every villain in the movie, you will still have a great time with celebrated actors reprising their super villain avatars (Willem Dafoe, Alfred Molina, Jamie Foxx). There’s even a minor appearance of Matt Murdoch/Daredevil (Charlie Cox), which will obviously throw MCU fanboys/girls into an overdrive, but will be enjoyable even for those who haven’t seen the titular Netflix series.
Even with so much going on in the movie, it doesn’t lose sight of what it means to be a Spider Man movie- it still has adolescent pangs, it still has moments of innocent love, and friendship. It also has the usual MCU tropes- post credit scenes with surprise characters, and this time, a full fledged trailer for Doctor Strange- Multiverse Of Madness.
No Way Home comes right at a time the MCU was starting to feel a little tired and stale. It infuses a raw energy and fun to the trilogy, and the cinematic universe. It is not a movie to be missed. It is a movie to be loved, to be enjoyed, to be cherished. Do not miss this one- you too, deserve a respite from this jadedness.