The following movie review was submitted to ThoroldNews by Ryan Walsh:
After The Avengers: End Game, there is a lot riding on Spider-Man’s latest entry as the 23rd film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Since the last film ended its 11-year-old story focusing on the Infinity Gauntlet, the anticipation for how this film would set up the next phase of the MCU left people speculating.
The best way to describe Spider-Man: Far From Home is that it tells two different types of stories. One, this is an epilogue story that takes place eight months after the events of the last film. Spider-Man: Far From Home is listed as the final film of phase 3 for the MCU, though it doesn’t mean that the MCU is entirely over.
Two, this is a vacation film, in which Peter Parker, played again by Tom Holland, is on a school trip with his fellow classmates as they travel around Europe, where Peter hopes to take a break from being the web-slinging hero. Basically, this means to be a much lighter film to offer some respite after the emotional bludgeoning from End Game, similar to what Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) was to The Avengers: Inifnity War (2018). However, as we all know, superheroes never get to take a vacation.
Far From Home’s premise focuses on Peter and how he deals with the aftermath of the last film’s events and the loss of a major character, potentially building up Spider-Man to be a much bigger superhero than ever before, relinquishing the title, “Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man.” Though the film does address that Peter is still a teenager and he still wants to live his own life, he also struggles with the growing responsibility of being a hero, now that the threats are increasing by the day.
At the same time, he encounters a brand new persona under the guise of Mysterio, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, who aids Spider-Man and Nick Fury against a new threat known as the Elementals. Anyone who knows how Mysterio works can see a plot element developing a mile away, but it’s the execution that makes the experience fun.
This film earns bonus points for making call-backs to specific side characters and moments throughout the saga, even as far back to the very first film of the MCU, Iron Man (2008). It’s a nice touch to reward those who have been following the series since the beginning.
The movie delivers on what it promises as being much more light-hearted, and it definitely brought some laughs with very likeable characters that we remember since Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017). The story’s pacing is also an improvement since the previous film felt scattered at times; Far From Home’s story continued at a good pace, keeping everything relevant and also showing how the characters’ actions have consequences which affect not only the story, but possibly future events after this film.
Where the film does struggle depends on the audience’s taste with respect to the teen drama in Peter’s life, which can come off as cliché and predictable at times. This is most evident around Peter’s love interest, MJ, also known as Michelle Jones, played by Zendaya. Peter makes multiple attempts to be with her but situations keep getting in the way, such as villains attacking civilians, or the biggest cliché, a rival for MJ’s attention. The teen clichés aren’t forced into the film but some viewers might consider them to be the weakest part of it.
Also, the film fails to completely answer the question about Spider-Man’s role after the events of End Game. The biggest plot points you’d see concerning Spider-Man’s potential future are the mid-credit and end credit scenes; the middle one especially, as it’ll change Peter Parker’s life forever.
Overall, Spider-Man: Far From Home is a worthy successor to the previous film and a fun entry into the MCU. A flawed production, but a very solid superhero film as it will leave audiences satisfied and wanting more. Only time will tell whether Spider-Man will get to have at least one more film in the MCU, and continue to be an official member of The Avengers.
