Since 2002, there have been eight Spider-Man films and three different actors taking on the web-slinger mantle. Spider-Man: No Way Home is a fitting culmination of all three eras and is the best Spider-Man film yet.
Director Jon Watts has done a great job of handling the Tom Holland Spider-Man films. He shines at balancing the tonal shifts throughout the film. No Way Home is full of great humor but is also the darkest Spider-Man film. The action and visual effects in Homecoming and Far From Home fit the story told but didn’t break new ground. No Way Home’s action scenes are far better than anything in the MCU with the exception of Endgame. The theme of ‘great power comes with great responsibility” hangs over the film throughout.
Holland gives one of the best performances in any film this year. The conclusion of Far From Home revealed Spider-Man’s identity to the world. With his identity out in the open, Ned and MJ’s lives have been altered just by their connection to him. He reaches out to Dr. Strange for help and all chaos ensues.
Dr. Strange’s spell pulls several villains from across the Spider-Man universe. Alfred Molina, Willem Dafoe, the voice of Thomas Haden Church, Jamie Fox and Rhys Ifans reprise their roles as Doc Ock, Norman Osbourne, Sandman, Electro and Lizard. Dafoe is phenomenal, Molina is sublime and Fox oozes cool, which is something that can’t be said about Max Dillon in The Amazing Spider–Man 2. Sandman and Lizard aren’t given as much to do, but it’s nice to hear Ifans and Church again.
Zendaya is wonderful as MJ. When Peter screws up, she accepts his apology and does what she can to help her boyfriend. Jacob Batalon continues to be reliable as Peter’s best friend Ned. However, the best supporting character is easily Marisa Tomei as Aunt May. Tomei as Aunt May is given far more to do in this film than any other Aunt May in a Spider-Man film. She gives an Academy Award-caliber performance in every scene she’s in. Tomei’s not in enough of the film to actually warrant a nomination, but her performance is sensational.
There are two issues in No Way Home. Ned’s ability to easily pick up magic isn’t earned. It’s a cool character beat that’s played for humor but needed to be built up over the course of the trilogy. There are some oddities with Dr. Strange’s involvement in the story specifically with the spell he casts. However, I did enjoy Benedict Cumberbatch’s performance as Strange opposite Holland’s Peter.
Despite those couple of issues, the ending of No Way Home is the best out of any MCU film. Equal part sad and oddly hopeful, the ending is a fitting conclusion to the three Holland films and sets the course for the next phase of Spider-Man films.
With the overview out of the way, let’s dive deeper into the elements that stood out in No Way Home. There will be Spoilers on the next page.
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Peter’s Good Intentions in No Way Home
Peter makes quite a few mistakes throughout No Way Home. He does have good intentions for every decision he makes.
When he approaches Dr. Strange, he wants everyone to forget Peter is Spider-Man. The wish isn’t for his benefit. His identity clearly impacts the lives of Aunt May, Happy Hogan, MJ and Ned. During the spell, he starts pointing out which characters should know his identity which causes the spell to backfire.
After capturing the villains later in the film, Peter learns that all of these people are fated to die fighting their Spider-Man. Dr. Strange decides to send them back to accept their dire fates. After a fantastic scene with Aunt May, Peter disagrees and fights Dr. Strange to try to save these villains. Peter gets the upper hand and works with the villains to solve their problems. His desire to save people who are clearly criminals shows how good of a person Peter is.
All of these decisions come with consequences for Peter. These decisions pay off in surprisingly emotional and satisfying ways.
A Villainous Quintent
Norman Osbourne serves as the main antagonist. While Electro is certainly hostile as well, it’s not until Norman turns that everything goes south for Peter.
Dafoe was the best part of 2002’s Spider-Man. He’s even better in this film playing the dual-personality of Norman and Green Goblin. There’s a true sadness when Norman is just Norman and a pure menace when Goblin takes over his mind. The action scenes between Goblin and Holland’s Spider-Man are intense.
Molina as Doc Ock is given a redemption arc. Peter works to fix the inhibitor chip, which malfunctioned in the Spider-Man 2. Electro is much better in Now Way Home than in Amazing Spider-Man 2. Foxx is able to make Max Dillon a cool character that’s clearly struggling against his desire for more power. Foxx’s portrayal is far more realistic as well.
Lizard and Sandman are just kind of there. Peter’s working to cure their proclivities as well, but the focus is definitively placed on the trio of Doc Ock, Green Goblin and Electro.
The interactions between all of these villains are great. Especially when it dawns on them that they were about to die when they were transported to this new world. While it’s not a huge focus, there’s also a sense that these villains would be better off in this new world. The best example is Electro who could use Tony Stark’s arc reactor technology as a constant source of tremendous power.
Spider-Men
I’m not going to spoil what happens in the finale of No Way Home. However, it’s impossible to discuss this film without addressing Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield‘s presence in this film.
They are in the film and not just in a cameo fashion either. Garfield, in particular, is outstanding. Holland gives the best overall performance in the film, but the runner-up is Garfield. His introduction to MJ and Ned is hilarious. Garfield’s Spider-Man was the best with quips and he’s a consistent source of humor here as well. Few actors channel sadness and pure emotion like Garfield can. There’s a moment with Garfield and Zendaya that is beautifully acted by both performers. No Way Home is further proof there are plenty of stories to tell with Garfield’s Spider-Man if Sony wants to explore that direction. If you’re considering Mile Morales, Garfield’s universe would be the perfect fit.
Maguire maintains the aw-shucks manner from the Raimi trilogy. He serves as the elder statesmen here which fit Maguire fine. There are moments when Holland and Garfield will aim barbs at Tobey’s Peter Parker. Tobey just shrugs it off or accepts their barbs good naturally. There is a hilarious conversation over where Tobey’s Peter Parker keeps his web fluid, which is wonderful.
The end of No Way Home certainly served as closure for Maguire’s Peter Parker. While No Way Home does serve that function for Garfield, there seems to be more room to navigate moving forward.
No Way Home Final Thoughts
Spider-Man: No Way Home is a remarkable accomplishment. Combining nearly 20 years of on-screen Spider-Man lore into one film shouldn’t work. However, with Holland as the film’s star and Watts at the helm, No Way Home never loses sight of the Peter Parker story.
