Spider-Man: Far From Home Review

Let's go down the list: we've had three Tobey Maguire films, two Andrew Garfield movies, a Tom Holland solo feature, and an epic Into the Spider-Verse animation. That's a total of SEVEN Spider-Man productions! With the addition of Far From Home, the question remains: is there anything fresh about it? The answer: duh, yes! The first Marvel film to take place following the events of Endgame, society tries to readjust itself from the snap and the blip (those who were brought back into existence). Peter Parker, played by the phenomenal Tom Holland, is one of those kids. He is dealing with *SPOILER ALERT* the death of Tony Stark while trying to get the nerve to ask out his crush, MJ (played by the talented Zendaya). Peter wants to take a break with his role as your friendly-neighborhood hero Spider-Man to enjoy his school trip in Europe. Like an Avenger would, he has a plan to make his mission work. Buy the gift, get MJ to the right location, and make the move. Simple, right? Not for Spider-Man. While in Europe, Peter encounters some creatures known as Elementals. They're beings whose bodies are composed of an element: fire, earth, water, air. This may be a job too big for Spidey to handle. Luckily he has aid of a new hero: Mysterio. Played by Jake Gyllenhaal, Mysterio has mystic powers that allow him to fly and shoot laser beams at his enemy. The duo may actually be able to take down the Elementals together. Now, let's break down what makes the film work and fresh compared to its predecessors.

First thing first, let's talk about the man of the hour: Tom Holland. He is a living Spider-Man in-front and beyond the camera. He can do flips, has the witty and charm to pull off being a lovable person, and gives it his all in his performances. Need more proof than his take as Spider-Man? Check out his other Oscar-worthy act...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0nNTklOKRA

Tom Holland captures the awkwardness of Peter Parker but the spirit of Spider-Man. He is seen putting the safety & needs of others before himself. But that doesn't always mean he does it right, which is perfectly fine! He's a sixteen year-old teenager who is full of mistakes and reminds everyone he is human and makes mistakes including heroes. Holland embodies the spirit Stan Lee envisioned with the character when he was first created: anyone can be Spider-Man. Parker is not a wealthy kid or makes profit from his heroic deeds. He is just a kid who is trying to get by at school, ask out MJ, find crime, and still make it back to his school trip without anyone noticing he's been gone. Multiple times we witness the vulnerability of Peter. We, as the audience, can be sad for him, angry at his mistakes, and love who he simply is. If Tom did not grasp the character from the first time we first laid eyes on him in 2016's Civil War, this film will convince anyone why he deserves the title of Spider-Man.

Next, we have our breakout star: Mysterio. Making his on-screen debut, he is introduced as a hero and comes with a lot of treats. First, let's give credit where credit is due with Jake Gyllenhaal. He makes the character lovable in a short amount of time and even though his costume is campy and straight out of the comics, it is badass! If you were to tell your friend about a character who has a fish bowl as a helmet they probably look at you while questioning the friendship. But Mysterio's design blows all the haters away. Known as the master of illusions, the films allows him to live up to the title. The cinematography gives Doctor Strange a ride for its money. Mysterio incorporates sets of illusions that give his opponents major headaches and makes them question reality. Coming from another universe, Mysterio comes to Earth 616 to protect them from the Elementals after his home world was destroyed by their carnage. This information introduces an interesting concept into the MCU. It creates the existence of a multiverse, an idea of parallel universes. Anyone familiar with the comics know that the Ultimate Universe is the opposite landscape for the Marvel that we have come to love.

Final Score: 9/10

Far From Home is entertaining on so many forefronts and guaranteed to make you leave the film with a smile on your face. It has the best Easter eggs for hardcore Spider-Man fans and an enjoyable storyline with effects for basically anyone. Nevertheless, it creates a universe with unlimited possibilities for the MCU. The Infinity Saga may be over, but Marvel, by far, isn't.