Spider-Man: No Way Home (Review)
This article was originally published on January 18, 2022
Written by Thomas Salerno
NOTE:
There will be SPOILERS in this review. You have been warned.
The first two MCU Spider-Man films had many laudable aspects, to be sure. Michael Keaton was brilliant as the Vulture in Homecoming, and I’ve always been of the opinion that Tom Holland has done a fine job portraying the eponymous teenage wall-crawler. Still, neither of the previous installments really stuck the landing, in my opinion. Maybe it was Peter’s over-reliance on Stark tech, or the fact that both Vulture and Mysterio had personal grudges against Iron Man that I felt distracted from the main conflict with Spidey. Also, I’m sorry to say I’ve never been much of a fan of the seminal Spider-Man trope: the desperately awkward high schooler moonlighting as a superhero. For whatever reason, it just doesn’t do much for me.
Because of my lukewarm opinions of both Homecoming and Far From Home, I went into Spider-Man: No Way Home with a significant amount of trepidation. The trailers did little to assuage my concerns. To me, it seemed like the film would largely be a Spider-Man/Doctor Strange team-up story with a heavy focus on Peter Parker being persecuted by the authorities. I was also concerned that, with a gaggle of supervillains from Sony’s other Spidey films returning, the movie would feel crowded and unfocused. There were some wonderful rumors that other prominent characters would be in the mix as well, but I kept my expectations in check, just in case all these reports were the result of misinformation.
I am happy to report that my concerns were mostly groundless. No Way Home is without a doubt the best of the MCU Spider-Man trilogy, and is a wonderful send-up of the entire Spidey franchise!
The plot is pure comic book wackiness – and I mean that as an unqualified positive! Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland), framed for the murder of Mysterio and vilified by both the public and the media, seeks out the assistance of Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch). The sorcerer agrees to cast a powerful spell, erasing all public knowledge of Spider-Man’s secret identity. But when Peter’s meddling causes the spell to go horribly awry, supervillains from across the multiverse arrive and begin wreaking havoc! Strange reveals that all of these bad guys are fated to die in their home universes at the hands of Spider-Man. If this sounds a tad confusing, don’t worry. The script does an excellent job of explaining all of this time-space madness. At least for a comic book fan like myself, it all made perfect sense.
Despite the heavy focus on Doctor Strange in the marketing, his involvement in the film is really more of an extended cameo. This is a Spider-Man adventure, through and through. There are many stand-out performances among the ensemble cast. Willem Dafoe is one of the highlights, as he once again transforms into Norman Osborn/Green Goblin. It was also a treat to see Alfred Molina back as Otto Octavius/Doctor Octopus. Both these actors were in fine form. Unfortunately, Jamie Foxx, Rhys Ifans, and Thomas Haden Church, reprising their roles as Electro, Lizard, and Sandman respectively, were much more one note villains. J. K. Simmons’ re-imagining of J. Jonah Jameson as an online conspiracy demagogue was a stroke of genius! There was a fan theory going around that Charlie Cox would cameo as Matt Murdoch, and I was delighted when this proved true!
Of course, the true main event was the triumphant return of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield as alternate universe Spider-Men! Their interactions, both with each other and with Tom Holland, were spot-on. Seeing the three Spideys work together was an absolute joy! The script nails the difficult balancing act of simultaneously celebrating the previous Spider-Man incarnations, while also using the opportunity to have some fun at their expense. It’s obvious that all the jokes of this kind come from a place of love for the Spider-Man character and his storied on-screen history.
The visual effects mostly cleared the high bar that the MCU sets for itself, with one glaring exception – the CGI Lizard looks cheap and unconvincing. Like many Marvel films, the music was unmemorable, merely a background soundtrack to support the kinetic, high octane action scenes.
There are some interesting themes for Christian viewers to unpack in this movie. Desperate to fix the unintended consequences of his impulsivity and immaturity, Peter decides that the easiest solution to this multiverse mess is to simply capture the villains and send them all back where they came from. But Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) admonishes Peter, forcing him to confront his own selfish motives.
Enkindled with a renewed sense of mission, Peter seeks to befriend these inter-dimensional criminals and offer them a new lease on life. I was struck by this portrayal of mercy and enemy love, principles integral to the Gospel of Christ, in a blockbuster superhero film. Especially when such principles seem in such short supply in contemporary society, the core message of the movie seemed timely indeed.
I was vividly reminded of the Parable of the Lost Sheep (cf. Matthew 18:10-14). Peter Parker symbolically becomes a Christ figure, seeking out and rescuing those who have become lost in the darkness of sin and madness. But, not unlike Christ, Peter must pay the cost of such radical love.
Without spoiling his final heart-wrenching decision, I’ll note that the film ends on a poignant and bittersweet note, with Peter beginning a new life, but still bearing the physical and emotional scars of all his previous struggles. He has sacrificed much, including something of his very identity, for the lives of the many.
No Way Home wraps up the MCU Spider-Man saga, while also serving as a glorious celebration of all the previous live action Spider-Man movies. In my opinion, it can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best entries in the Marvel canon and should deservedly be discussed and enjoyed for years to come as a watershed moment for the Spidey franchise.
