Spider-Man: Homecoming was a strong start for Tom Holland's Peter Parker in the Marvel Cinematic Universe following his introduction in
Captain America: Civil War, but for some comic book fans, it didn't quite deliver the iconic imagery they were hoping for. This version of the Webhead didn't have an immediate grasp of his powers (hence why he wasn't casually swinging from skyscraper to skyscraper in New York City) and was instead a Friendly Neighbourhood crime-fighter until being forced to step up and battle The Vulture.
Since then, we've seen him head into outer space and then return to Earth to witness the death of his mentor and father figure, Tony Stark/Iron Man. In other words, Spider-Man has been through a lot, so it's no wonder he needs a vacation in
Spider-Man: Far From Home, a sequel which sees director Jon Watts take the foundations he laid in the first instalment and turn them into something truly spectacular with a follow-up that's every bit as amazing as
Spider-Man 2.
This is, without a doubt, the best
Spider-Man movie to date, and Holland delivers in every respect with a performance that is by far the strongest we've seen from him in these Marvel movies. At this point, he
is Peter Parker, and now he's earned his (web) wings, it's great to see him playing the Spidey we all know and love from the comics. As Peter, he's plagued by the classic "Parker Luck" and as his heroic alter-ego, he's a far more confident superhero who is now more proactive than reactive.
Zendaya arguably steals the show as MJ, though, and this fresh take on the character is both exciting and a fun departure from what we've previously seen on screen. Her chemistry with Holland is off the charts and it's definitely nice to see a female love interest in the
Spider-Man franchise who is so much more than just a damsal in distress. As for Jake Gyllenhaal, we won't talk too much about Quentin Beck/Mysterio for fear of spoilers, but rest assured that he does the character justice and is firing on all cylinders here; he's clearly enjoying entering this comic book world and not just phoning it in for the sake of a large pay day.
Spider-Man: Far From Home is a movie full of big surprises and moments that wil stick with you for a long time to come. One sequence, in particular, might just be one of the best, most comic book-y moments in the MCU's entire history, and it's clear that Watts is now fully comfortable with big budget filmmaking and the man best suited for bringing Spidey to the big screen. All of this astonishing action is accompanied by a strong story, and while there was some concern that the massive, CG Elementals would "dumb down" the franchise, seeing Peter go head to head with these new takes on villains like Molten Man and Hydro-Man is massively entertaining, especially when it's all handled in such a smart way.
Part spy story and part road trip adventure, the sequel never fails to entertain and culminates with an unimaginably epic finale and a pair of post-credits scenes which are truly unmissable.
Nick Fury's presence adds an interesting new wrinkle to Spidey's world, while taking the hero overseas was a bold move that definitely pays off. For longtime fans and causal viewers alike, there's a lot to love here and it's impossible to imagine anyone not having a good time with
Spider-Man: Far From Home. From Happy Hogan's unexpected romance with Aunt May to the way the movie handles the fallout from
Avengers: Endgame, this movie cannot be missed.
The perfect Spider-Man movie, Far From Home is an adventure for the web-slinger like no other and will leave fans talking for a long time to come. Prepare for your jaw to be left on the floor!