Spiderman: No Way Home Review

On December 17th everybody’s favorite web slinger made his third solo appearance on the big screen with the release of Spiderman: No Way Home. The movie was a big hit with both fans and movie critics, making this the second biggest Marvel movie in the box office, right behind Avengers Endgame.

As many will recall, we left poor Peter Parker with a revealed identity. This movie picks up right in its aftermath. Peter must now find a way to move on with his normal life and be a superhero while everyone knows his secret. Issues continue to pile up until Peter decides to take action. That’s when he comes to Doctor Strange for a spell that could make the world forget that Peter Parker is Spiderman. The plot takes off from there, spiraling from a botched spell to people from alternate universes coming to this one. It is now up to Peter and his friends to send the newcomers home with the help of Doctor Strange. A complicated task grows even more challenging as time progresses and more layers unfold.

Spiderman: No Way Home is a fun ride for any viewer with any level of investment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With the return of old favorites like Toby Macquire’s and Andrew Garfeild’s Peter Parkers, as well as many classic villains like Doc Oc and Green Goblin, the nostalgia levels are high. This is not a cheap grab for some nostalgia cash though, that’s just an added bonus. The plot is fast paced and complicated enough to be engaging without getting the audience lost or confused. It stays true to the style of Spiderman movies fans have come to love — light and whimsical, with a good reminder that Parker is still just a teenager — while also taking on a deeper, darker tone. We see Peter grappling with threats on a scale we have never seen before, and through that see a darker side to him that has not been seen in the MCU before, but is compelling to watch. It will leave you almost wanting him to get what he’s after, but scared for what might become of the Peter Parker we all know. While we have an impressive number of characters included in this movie, all with their own growth and missions, none of it is confusing or overwhelming. This may be because they are all pre established or maybe it’s just good story telling, I’ll leave that up for you to decide.

*Spoiler warning*

*Spoiler Warning* The one thing I would have liked to see from this movie is just to know what happened to each of the characters who were sent back to their own timeline. What happens to Oswin Oswald if he’s no longer got the Green Goblin in his head? What happens if Doc Oc’s tentacles are under his control again? How these changes affect their story may have been irrelevant details but for the sake of my nerd brain, I would like to know.

Spiderman No Way Home is definitely not a movie to be missed. It takes a step towards setting up Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, as well as being a fantastic stand-alone movie. It continues to play in a theater near you now.

MAYA OEVERMAN

Editor Emeritus at The City Voice | MIPA Honorable Mention Award Winner

I am a Senior at City and I normally write the weekly book reviews! If I'm not reading, you can usually find me at the barn riding and taking care of the horses.