If you’re a Spider-Man fan, this is the movie you’ve been waiting for. Spider-Man: No Way Home is the final installment of the latest Spider-Man trilogy, released in theatres on Dec. 17. The movie is set immediately after Spider-Man: Far From Home after the villain, Mysterio, exposes Spider-Man’s real identity — Peter Parker. Now, with his personal life facing the consequences of the events of Far From Home, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) seeks the help of Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) to make everyone forget that he’s a superhero. Things go sideways when villains from other Spider-Man universes start appearing.
Tom Holland continues to shine in the titular role, this time portraying Peter in a more mature light. While quips and funny moments are ever-present, 25-year-old Holland handles the darker themes in an authentic and heartbreaking way. Another standout performance is Willem Dafoe, who portrays Norman Osborne/Green Goblin. He first played the character in Spider-Man (2002). The other villains pale in comparison to Dafoe’s chilling demeanor and delirious laugh. In fact, some of the best scenes are confrontations between Peter and the Green Goblin.
Peter’s friend Ned (Jacob Batalon) finds new agency in this film, and Peter’s girlfriend MJ (Zendaya) is likeable as always. I do wish we could have seen Ned and MJ more independently — they work as a duo for most of the film — but stepping to the sideline was necessary for other characters to shine.
While it’s possible to simply watch this movie as the third installment of the trilogy, it’s best viewed as yet another puzzle piece in the ever-growing Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film references past MCU movies like Doctor Strange, future MCU themes like the Multiverse, and, of course, past Spider-Man franchises. You never forget that this is an MCU movie; it’s got your typical superhero tropes and genre conventions. But beyond all of that, it’s a love letter to the fans.
In some ways, I felt I was watching fanfiction, but it never felt out of place and it didn’t rely too heavily on nostalgia. It just felt like a self-indulgent movie. More than anything, I had a blast watching it. But while No Way Home is heartwarming at times, it simultaneously demands that Peter face consequences for his actions. He must answer the question: If great power comes with great responsibility, where does his responsibility lie? Is he responsible for what happens in other universes?
I’m not prepared to say that this is a perfect superhero movie. For example, the supervillains lose most of their threatening nature. Spider-Man faces off against enemies from the Spider-Man movies and The Amazing Spider-Man movies, including the Green Goblin (Dafoe), Doc Ock (Alfred Molina), The Lizard (Rhys Ifans), Sandman (Thomas Haden Church), and Electro (Jamie Foxx). Although the MCU has a good track record with ensemble movies (such as 2012’s The Avengers), the sheer amount of villains in No Way Home makes it difficult to equalize the fight. An equal fight requires weaker villains.
No Way Home also loses the school themes of its predecessors. While Spider-Man: Homecoming was a high school story (which happened to feature a superhero) and Far From Home brought the same school spirit to Europe, No Way Home does not. The relatable and hilarious classmates’ and teachers’ screentime is sacrificed in exchange for a heavier yet memorable tribute to the fans.
And this decision is absolutely necessary. As much as I loved the school elements of the previous films, No Way Home needed to move beyond it. Peter Parker is maturing. He’s no longer a high school student trying to prove himself. Now, he’s a young man who knows what it means to be Spider-Man — and what it means to be Peter Parker. In many ways, this entire trilogy is his origin story.
Danaye studies English and procrastination at UFV and is very passionate about the Oxford comma. She spends her days walking to campus from the free parking zones, writing novels she'll never finish, and pretending to know how to pronounce abominable. Once she graduates, she plans to adopt a cat.
