Spider-Man: No Way Home - Hollywood’s Worst Kept Secret! (SPOILERS AHEAD)

It’s nearly 20 years since everyone’s favourite, friendly neighbourhood superhero hit cinema screens for the first time, and yet Spider-Man continues to draw in the crowds. But with a lot of audiences suffering superhero fatigue, this genre really needs to provide something special to keep them coming back. And having been the subject of extensive rumours and leaks, it’s safe to say that Spider-Man: No Way Home is the first recent MARVEL production to really grab the attention of audiences since 2019’s Endgame.

Those who have seen this latest MARVEL offering will likely be as astounded and blown away as I was by the visual spectacle that was on display. But I think it’s safe to say that the content of this film is by far, the worst kept secret in Hollywood. If you’ve read any big rumours about this film, chances are that they will actually be true. And for some, this could actually appear a disappointment as these moments might feel less of a surprise. But for me, I was still delighted by what the film accomplished. From start to finish, the twists and turns kept me truly engaged and entertained.

I’ve seen some people show dislike for the actual catalyst behind the story. How Peter ruins a spell by Doctor Strange as he constantly changes the terms. Now this might feel lazy to some, as well as feeling out of character for Doctor Strange to even do this. But in my eyes, there is a clear outline for the character’s mindsets and motifs in this moment. Peter has just been dealt a major blow to the futures of him and those closest to him. He’s eager to do what’s best for them, and he goes diving head first into an idea, without truly considering the terms and consequences of his actions. It reinforces the film’s message, that his variant of the character has had to finally acknowledge and learn. With great power, comes great responsibility. And we feel the full brunt of these consequences throughout the story, and it becomes more of a gut punch with each consequence.

As for Doctor Strange, it’s clear from his appearances so far in the MCU, that as serious as he appears at time, he is still a cocky and overly confident figure of authority. Blend that with him genuinely feeling sorry for Peter’s misfortune, it’s clear why he would be more willing to take the chance. Plus when things unfold and the wider picture becomes clear, Strange doesn’t continue to back Peter’s corner, and instead, he takes the matter as seriously as you would expect, standing for no nonsense! Overall, I have no issue with the catalyst behind the film’s events, and have nothing but praise for Tom Holland and Benedict Cumberbatch’s performances.

Overall the performances are exceptional by all leading players in this film. Zendaya continues to be a brilliant romantic interest, giving entertaining support alongside Jacob Batalon’s Ned. The tragic end to their story-line with Tom Holland’s Peter was both unexpected and in hindsight feels like the writing team were foreshadowing it from the start. Without completely giving the ending away, it’s safe to say that their involvement with future Spider-Man films might be very minimalist, depending on whether Peter’s decision at the end sticks for long. I personally hope they let this decision last a little while at least Marisa Tomei cements in this film that her interpretation of Aunt May is superbly unique. It doesn’t feel like they’re retreading the performances of Sally Field or Rosemary Harris. She is able to be that mother figure Peter needs, whilst also establishing that moral compass that each interpretation ends up being. It helps that as her story-line comes to a beautifully planned yet devastating end, it’s clear that her words and her actions will continue to have an everlasting impact on Peter’s future.

This film overall does an exceptional job of focusing on the individuality of Spider-Man, showing that he doesn’t need to be constantly linked to the likes of Tony Stark to be a relevant character in this never-ending story. The decision to essentially isolate Peter completely at the end is a really smart choice. Not only because we can now see Spider-Man develop, without constantly relying on MCU big names to help hold up the story, but it also sets up the prospect of some more comic stories relevant to Peter’s maturing and development, being brought to the big screen in the future. This is helped by the inclusion of two particular actors. I won’t say their names but those who have seen the film know who I’m talking about. Not only do we get to see their characters continue to develop and grow after so long, but they also give Tom’s version of Spider-Man a clear sense of individuality. The sense that he doesn’t need to be “Spider-Man from the Avengers”, instead he can just be the neighbourhood friendly Spider-Man, whom many audiences have been eager to see more of since this trilogy started.

I can’t ignore the inclusion of villains from Spidey films past. These actors fall back into their repsective roles really well, and in the case of some such as Jamie Foxx's Electro, gets to build on their character more so. Willem Dafoe and Alfred Molina are key players that stand out on the villainous side, it feels as if no time as passed since they last dawned their respective costumes. The interactions between these villains as well as their interactions with other characters feels very meta, which only increases the entertainment value. It's very unlikely that such villains will get to reappear in these incarnations again, so it was really nice to see them causing havoc one last time. A real celebration of Spider-Man's 20 year cinematic history.

Overall, Spider-Man: No Way Home ends this trilogy of films on an extremely high level, a level that has only been matched by 2018's Into The Spider-Verse. Audiences and fans alike will be left speechless and thoroughly entertained by this incredibly fun and thrilling adventure through 20 years of cinematic, web-slinging spectacles. With Tom Holland's spidey journey continuing into the future with a new trilogy currently being planned, it's really exciting to see where the character goes next!

SCORES

Story - 5/5

Characters - 5/5

Production - 5/5

Acting - 5/5

Music - 5/5

TOTAL - 10/10