*SPOILERS INCOMING*
I have been a fan of Spider-Man for about as long as I can remember. The first birthday gift that I ever received was a Spider-Man comic book. I read the book multiple times until the pages started to wear down. Not long after, I dressed up as Spider-Man for Halloween for the first time (I say first because it happened more than once). I have vivid memories of my mother forcing me to wear a winter jacket underneath the costume—convincing me that the puffiness made me look as strong as the real Spider-Man. She then sent me out with my friends and siblings to pretend to swing around the neighbourhood and collect candy.
Although I saw the first two Sam Raimi films, I only really remember watching Spider-Man 3 in theatres. I was nine years old at the time, fascinated by the Sandman’s origin story and the special effects that made Venom look so frightening. I saw both The Amazing Spider-Man films in theatres as well. However, it was Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man who I connected with most. Though, I do believe it was borderline criminal that they killed off Emma Stone’s Gwen.
Then Marvel acquired the Webslinger’s rights and made their own Spider-Man trilogy. Each movie is pretty incredible on its own, due to the incredible casting decisions, and the relatable storylines.
You could say I am a pretty big fan of Spider-Man. I also loved the animated take, Into the Spider-Verse, and the highly-praised Spider-Man PS4 game. If Spidey is involved, I am in. As a decades-long fan, I believe the finale of the first Marvel Spidey trilogy, Spider-Man: No Way Home represents one of the best Spider-Man offerings.
Perhaps what separates this movie from other Spider-Man movies, and superhero movies in general, is the heartfelt and authentic storyline. In this take, we are not concerned with putting an end to an alien invasion, or something absurd. No Way Home is a story about Peter Parker; a teenage boy trying to come to grips with his superpowers amidst his already chaotic life. Instead of a story about saving the world, this movie considers the complexities of growing up. The audience realizes that true heroes are not necessarily those with superpowers. Instead, heroes are those who make incredible sacrifices for the world and the people they love. The Marvel trilogy has always used Tom Holland’s Peter Parker as a moral compass. Once more in the third offering, our Spider-Man is faced with decisions never imagined.
Additionally, No Way Home cannot be discussed without reference to its cast. A botched spell from Dr. Strange brings Spider-Man villains from every franchise into the mix: the Green Goblin, Sandman, and Dr. Octopus from the Sam Raimi trilogy; and Electro and the Lizard from the Andrew Garfield trilogy. It also results in both Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire’s versions of Spider-Men entering the marvel universe.
Now, it would have been easy to mismanage these cameos. Many of these characters had flaws that diminished their original effect. Yet, No Way Home takes the best of each villain and Spider-Man, and fits them all together—like a perfect puzzle. For instance, Jamie Foxx’s Electro in the Garfield trilogy took a lot of slack for being overly ridiculous—especially in his initial appearance. In No Way Home, Foxx’s Electro appears completely different, and the characters even joke about his previous appearance. Another example is the way Garfield’s Spider-Man is treated. Many believe that Garfield was a great Spider-Man who suffered from terrible character writing. There are times where his character briefly complains about things that Maguire and Holland’s Spider-man can do or have done that his version of the character cannot. It is a lighthearted way of pointing to issues in the past movies while improving on them in the current takes.
Meanwhile, the characters who were always hits remain hits. Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin remains terrifying, creepy, and weird. The same goes for Alfred Molina’s Dr. Octopus. And of course, Zendaya’s MJ and Jacob Batalon’s Ned remain prevalent as strong characters of the story.
There is much more I could say about the movie, but what truly makes it great is that it gave the fans what they wanted. We got a redemption arc for all three Spider-Men. We saw the return of great characters like the Green Goblin—even alluding to the memes that he stars in. Even Daredevil of Netflix fame makes a brief appearance. Peter Parker’s posse remains comedic and fun no matter the setting. Marissa Tomei continued to thrive as Aunt May. Plus, we finally see Tom Holland’s Spider-Man get the “With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility” chat.
Whether you like Spider-Man and superhero movies or not, this one is worth watching. It feels like more than a mere superhero movie. It feels like the end to all three Spider-Man trilogies. It feels like a coming-of-age story for Tom Holland’s Peter Parker. It will make you laugh and cry, and leave the theatre (if theatres are even still open) entertained.
I have only a single complaint. If you are to open up the multiverse and bring back characters from all over the universe, where is Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacey? Has Emma Stone ever not performed a role perfectly? I think not. She must be brought back to the marvel universe. Only good things will come.