Title: Spider-Man: No Way Home
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Jon Watts
Starring: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon
Runtime: 2 hrs 28 mins
What It Is: In this third installment of Marvel’s version of the web-slinger we’re dealing with the fallout from the last film Spider-Man: Far From Home. In which Mysterio revealed the identity of Spider-Man as Peter Parker (Holland). He seeks the help of Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) to perhaps erase people’s memory that he’s Spider-Man. When the spell doesn’t go as it should, this is Peter’s fault, it leads to a rift in time. One that leads to the multi-verse leaking into our cozy MCU. But can Peter stop all the things that are about to occur?
What We Think: This film is the best of what superhero films can be. Navigating perfectly the pathos of not just Spider-Man as a character but that of Peter Parker. In a year where Marvel and subsequently DC put out perhaps their best efforts in some time in Shang-Chi and The Suicide Squad the webslinger himself shows all of them up. It’s a revival for some characters done dirty by Sony previously and a celebration of the successes formally found. The chemistry between the three actors in the leads is still fantastic and those who showed up to antagonized were able to prove why Spideys rouges gallery is the best amongst Marvels vast pantheon of baddies. Watts has learned from the previous installments and crafted on of cinemas best hero flick and one that stands high on any list of standard Marvel fair. He’s still got some work to do to catch Raimi’s second crack though. An emotionally sound and wonderfully paced piece of fluff that goes beyond simple good guy versus bad guys.
Our Grade: A, It gives me all the pleasure to give this film it’s just desserts. If you’re a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) there is absolutely no reason to not turn this film on immediately. It is certainly earns the rights it has as one of 2021’s best films. There’s nothing like it in the MCU and I don’t think there ever will be.