Spider-Man No Way Home Review: Epic blockbuster fare lets Tom Holland's Spider-Man come into his own
Spider-Man No Way Home has been much-discussed since it was announced – shrouded in mystery, but fuelled by fan theories. The rumour mill has been running wilder than ever before and, rare though it may be, this epic blockbuster actually lives up to the hype. If What If..? introduced the concept of a multiverse to the MCU, No Way Home shows exactly how exciting that can be when well-executed, even if there are a couple of hiccups along the way. The nostalgia and excitement of seeing Sony Spider-Man villains appear in the MCU is unparalled, but this isn't just a trip down memory lane. This film seizes the opportunity to tell a classic Spider-Man tale about the difficulties and consequences of living a double life, and it allows Tom Holland to shine in the role instead of standing in someone elses shadow.
Starting where Far From Home left off, Peter Parker and MJ (Zendaya) are on the run from the public and law enforcement when his identity is revealed. After seeing the negative impact knowing him and his secret has on his loved ones, Peter turns to Dr Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) to cast a spell to make everyone forget Spider-Man is Peter Parker. Not everything goes to plan, though, as visitors from other universes – visitors who also know Spider-Man – start to appear.
Of course, one of the films' main selling points is the cameos, and in this respect it does not disappoint. In fact, many of the roles are substantial enough to be much more than cameo material. The roles of Doc Ock and Green Goblin are fantastic, both in terms of writing and performance. Willem Dafoe throws himself into the character with so much zeal, it's as though not a day has passed since the original Spider-Man was released. He oozes menace and crazy unpredictability as Green Goblin, and then seamlessly switches to the fear and confusion present in Norman Osborne. In a film overflowing with memorable characters and acting talent, he steals all of his scenes effortlessly.
There is unfortunately a downside to the films' execution of the multiverse – it can be too cluttered, and it's forced to explain the origins of its character for audience members who aren't in the know. Without giving too much away, there is a scene where the villains share their origins stories with Peter and each other. It's a clumsy, exposition-laden ordeal, sprinkled with some hit-and-miss jokes to make it bearable. This is regrettably a running theme when it comes to No Way Home's dialogue, where exchanges between characters can be clunky and awkward. But for the most part this Spider-Man crossover is a joyous thing. The appearance of each new character renews our excitement, the story takes some refreshingly unexpected twists, and it builds to a grand climactic battle that delivers everything its trailers promised and more.
No Way Home isn't just a blockbuster spectacle, it's also a truly touching Spider-Man story. Complaints that Holland's Peter Parker was always standing in Iron Man's shadow are put to rest during the course of this film. With the entire world against him, Peter is forced to stand on his own to protect his loved ones. Like it's Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield-led predecessors, this film explores the difficulties of living a double life as Peter struggles to balance being a superhero and his life as an average young guy with aspirations, and witnesses the consequences this has on his family and friends. It hits many of the same narrative beats as previous films, and by the end Holland's incarnation of the character feels more like Spider-Man than ever before.
Spider-Man No Way Home is not a perfect iteration of the multiverse. It clearly struggles with the sheer volume of characters and with its dialogue, however its love for its colourful cast of characters is also apparent. It may be clunky in places, but it hits all of the right emotional notes, provides a tonne of excitement, and allows Tom Holland's Peter Parker to really come into his own.
