Spider-Man: No Way Home

Tom Holland is back as the worlds most famous web-slinger. We pick up the story at the end of “Far From Home” where J.K. Simmons’s, J. Jonah Jameson has unmasked Spider-man. Not surprisingly, this has turned Peter’s world and that of his nearest and dearest MJ (Zendeya) Marisa Tomei’s Aunt May and Ned (Jacob Batalon), upside down. Peter wants to try and fix things, and his best chance is Dr Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), who can use his skills to make just enough of the world forget who Spider-man is. However, when things go wrong, his world is thrown into a chaos of Spider-mans own history, vendettas, enemies, and memories, not only of his world but across the “multi-verse.”

The challenge these films come up against often is the weight of their own storytelling. Add into this a “multi-verse” and “fan-service” there is every chance you sink any attempts at a coherent, entertaining experience.

Thankfully not here. Instead, we have a joy of a superhero adventure full of action, emotion and humour. The humour particularly works with a lightness and sense of fun. As many know, it leans heavily on “spideys” recent history bringing back characters from different “reboots”. While that is risky, here it is done with a deft touch.

A big part of the success is the core characters chemistry. Holland’s balance of the boy with the gifts and the weight of the world, Zendeya, who continues to shine in everything that she does and Batalon’s Ned is just right as the trusty sidekick. All of them bounce off each other brilliantly.

What also worked was its accessibility. Getting the balance between something for the casual observer and the fan is tricky. However, No Way Home seems to nail it. While there will be things I missed, those I saw were a treat. The balance between the likeable characters and the series history never felt forced or overly complex. Even its ending is clean and fitting. Setting up what’s next while neatly tying up its plot threads.

No Way Home is a triumph of a superhero adventure. Fast, slick, fun, and emotional where it needs to be. An excellent cast and good balance between modern story and Spidey history all while thankfully accessible. If you’ve never seen Spidey before, you’ll miss some of the fun, but it won’t matter; you will still have a blast. Spiderman bringing entertainment wherever a spider can.