‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’ – Review
Everyone’s favourite friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man is back, but this time Peter Parker is taking his heroics with him to a whole new continent in Spider-Man: Far From Home, and there’s plenty of spectacle awaiting audiences here.
Peter Parker (Tom Holland) returns in Spider-Man: Far From Home, the next chapter of the Spider-Man: Homecoming series! Our friendly neighbourhood Super Hero decides to join his best friends Ned (Jacob Batalon), MJ (Zendaya), and the rest of the gang on a European vacation. However, Peter’s plan to leave super heroics behind for a few weeks are quickly scrapped when he begrudgingly agrees to help Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) uncover the mystery of several elemental creature attacks, creating havoc across the continent!
We’ve all wondered what would happen after the events of Avengers: Endgame, just what would come next? Spider-Man: Far From Home is the answer and it promises plenty of interesting detail. While it is a blockbuster on an international scope that is jam-packed full of action, director Jon Watts doesn’t go for the high-level heroics of The Avengers, instead he continues with his ground-level view of a hero who is still coming into his position as an Avenger, and Tom Holland’s Peter Parker has some serious lessons to learn about responsibility here. As a filmmaker tasked with bringing the story of this generation’s Spider-Man to the big screen, Watts approaches the growing Spider-Man saga with an amazing passion and it really shines through on screen. From the intimate desire for first love to the adrenaline of action-packed superheroics, Watts devotes himself completely to the narrative and it results in incredible entertainment.
Tom Holland is again the star of the show here, and Holland’s Peter Parker has been through a hell of a lot lately, most importantly losing his beloved father figure in Tony Stark to a sacrificial choice that saved the universe itself. Now with Tony gone, Peter has to figure out what’s next for him as a superhero crime fighter and this leads to plenty of interesting moments. While it’s always fun to see Holland jumping from buildings and slinging webs, the real interest in Spider-Man: Far From Home comes from the reconciliation that he has to face with the void left by Tony’s absence. While he may be a teenager looking for love and adventure, he also has newfound responsibilities, and this creates plenty of drama for audiences and leads to a very interesting watch.
Father figures play a crucial part in the Spider-Man myth, and if Tony was Peter’s adoptive father, then Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury happens to be the new mean stepfather, and he ain’t got time for Peter’s petty teenage life when the fate of the world is at stake. Whatever Jackson does it always leads to genius and here as the uber gruff Fury audiences will be in for a real treat. While Peter is looking forward to a vacation, Fury has to save the Earth again and this collision between these two characters leads to plenty of hysterics here. It’s fun to watch Jackson and Holland play-off of one another and you can also expect some pretty epic bits of dialogue from Jackson as well.
If Nick Fury is the mean stepdad, then Jake Gyllenhaal’s Quentin Beck is the cool uncle and Gyllenhaal brings plenty of charisma to the big screen here. As a soldier from a parallel universe called Earth-833 who has arrived on Earth to stop the marauding Elementals, Gyllenhaal’s Beck takes on the guise of the ultra-powered, ultra cool Mysterio and his powers are pretty damn epic to see up on the big screen. This Hollywood leading man is certainly having a blast here, and he strikes up a great chemistry with Holland as he takes the young Peter Parker under his wing and helps him along with his journey as Spider-Man. Gyllenhaal absolutely commands the audience’s attention here in Spider-Man: Far From Home, and he’s got a few surprises up his sleeve as Mysterio that definitely leaves an impression.
At its heart Spider-Man: Far From Home is a road movie and Peter and his classmates get up to some serious fun as they travel across Europe on what’s supposed to be a vacation. This all-new European setting lends itself to a whole new level of comedy, and Spider-Man: Far From Home is an absolute laugh factory. Watts again has very capable control of what’s going on here, and watching Far From Home reminded me of the likes of classic comedy films such as National Lampoon’s Vacation for its jaw-dropping hilarity. It’s a real treat.
Alongside the laughs, romance also blossoms while on vacation and it’s here that the teen movie genre takes off. While Peter vies for the affection of MJ (Zendeya), it’s his best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon) who finds love with fellow classmate Betty Brant (Angourie Rice), and their chemistry and antics up on screen are just adorable to watch. Watts really captures the awkwardness that comes with first love and it’s fun to watch these characters fumble through their feelings of teenage romance, while also seeing the attraction and character development that comes with it. As a supporting star, Zendaya’s MJ again is a great foil for Peter Parker’s affections and it’s fun to see them up on screen together.
And if you’re looking for action, well, you’ve come to the right place, because Spider-Man: Far From Home delivers some massive thrills, and they sure do get your adrenaline up! The European canvas of the film’s setting provides a landscape for some particularly awesome moments up on screen, and watching Spider-Man and Mysterio trade blows with the Elementals sure is a lot of fun. However it’s the Berlin action sequence that makes for one hell of a mind trip and it’s twisty, combative presence is really fun to watch. As he’s also in Europe Peter gets another costume update this time as well, and it’s fun to watch him, retrofit a new Spidey suit which comes with plenty of fun gadgets.
From beginning to end, Spider-Man: Far From Home is a blast to watch and it’ll definitely get you amped for what is to come next in the MCU. With a terrific narrative, a wonderful cast, hilarious comedy and plenty of blockbuster action you’ll want to see this one on the biggest screen possible.
Image: Sony Pictures
