Movie Review: Spider-man No Way Home
With this review we can conclude all discussion of MCU Spider-man, a mixed bag of an experiment that at the very least ended on a strong note.
No Way Home is, frankly, a ridiculous film. Its core conflict — Spider-man risking the integrity of all reality so he can get into a fancy college — is laughable. The film really did Doctor Strange dirty with him clowning and being clowned multiple times. Spider-man’s rather selective morality about rehabilitation and killing ends up costing innocent lives (namely his aunt’s). While the special effects are mostly good and the acting is decent, the attempt to go for heavier themes is only successful in part, especially with that hokey bittersweet ending.
And yet for all its faults I can’t stay mad at this movie. We got Tobey Macguire, the OG and greatest of all Spider-men, back in the saddle for one last ride. We also got a great redemption arc for Andrew Garfield’s Amazing Spider-man. Both had troublesome but underrated final films in their respective series. Garfield in particular is to me clearly the finest actor and arguably the most comic-accurate take on the character ultimately undone by terrible writing and awful Sony IP management.
It was a treat seeing the three of them interact. Tobey was great as the big brother Spider-man imparting wisdom. I loved his moment deliberately building up Andrew telling him to say, “I am amazing,” because he truly is. Andrew was also great channeling a quiet rage and remorse. The third act alone makes this movie worthwhile. Props to Jamie Foxx, Alfred Molina, and Willem Dafoe as well for doing great work reprising their iconic villains. No Way Home is the last good thing the MCU had to offer after Endgame. Worth a watch if you loved the older Spider-man movies but skippable otherwise.
Grade: B-
