After the events of Avengers: Endgame, one can understand why Peter Parker (Tom Holland) would want to leave the old Spidey suit in the closet as he and his classmates head to Europe for a little R&R&MJ. That’s rest and relaxation and MJ (Zendaya), the girl who Parker has had a crush on since … forever. Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and fate has other plans for our webbed wonder, aka Spider-Man.
Lucky for Parker, Aunt Mae (Marissa Tomei) is always there to remind her nephew when he forgets important things. Good thing, because our favorite neighborhood Spider-Man will be needed across Europe as the so-called Elementals are rearing their heads, from Venice to Prague and London (and a few places in between). These monsters are named due to their reflection of the four elements—water, fire, earth and wind. While in Venice, the water Elemental appears as Parker and his pals are having an otherwise enjoyable first day of their European vacay. The teen that wanted to just enjoy his trip is suddenly face-to-face with an epic foe obsessed with widespread death and destruction.
Lucky for Parker, a mysterious flying hero appears and with a wee bit of help from a suit-less Spider-Man, defeats their adversary. The Italian press labels him Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal). Not only does the moniker stick, but the man behind the caped soul rather enjoys it. He hooks up with Fury and Parker and proceeds to explain the origins of these monsters and how they destroyed his version of Earth … yes, we’re in a multiverse situation folks, sound familiar? Yup, it’s a perfect nod to the Oscar winning animated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. What becomes painfully clear is that Parker’s head (and heart for that matter) is not in the superhero game currently. After all, he is a teenager and his friends and a girl he likes is forefront on his radar and very little else is present. Fury does not like it one bit, but with Mysterio on his side and Iron Man recently deceased, the orchestrator of the Avengers believes that this new superhero can hold the Elementals at bay—for now. But he makes it clear that Parker has some serious thinking to do. He has a gift. With the superhero collective recently taking fatal blows, his patience for Spider-Man’s wishy-washiness is thin.
There will be other Elementals and whether he knows it or not, Parker will be an integral part of sending them packing.
This entire set-up is a fascinating one, not only in the sense of the Spider-Man world that re-started with Holland’s premiere performance in Civil War and of course his debut solo effort, Spider-Man: Homecoming, but also in this post-Endgame landscape in the MCU. Lots of people gave the entity that is life a whole lot of deeper thought after the Thanos finger snap. Not the least of whom was Parker, especially after losing his mentor Tony Stark/Iron Man. There is a whole lot of Fury telling our titular character that he needs to grow up and also embrace that whole Spider-Man modus operandi that is referred to in this picture, but never mentioned. You know the one, “With great power comes great responsibility.” It does not appear that Parker wants any of it. This is a teenager whose entire existence at the moment centers on telling the girl of his dreams that he likes her. After what Thanos did to the universe at the conclusion of Infinity War, Fury doesn’t exactly have too much compassion for affairs of the teenage heart. Due to the dramatic events of Far From Home, Parker’s mindset is essentially made for him and it is done in such a way that is not only compelling, believable and rich with layered storytelling potential.
Now, from a filmmaking point of view, how does one follow-up the juggernaut that is Endgame?
This flick has the fortune of being the “next” Marvel movie after the fourth Avengers flick and simultaneously serves as the final chapter in “Phase Three” in Kevin Feige’s master plan. If Endgame is the conclusion, then Far From Home is the epilogue and it is done so in a powerful manner that is fascinating. See, the two Spider-Man films that we have thus far in the MCU have a certain tone and feel to them that is uniquely sophomoric as it is humorous and heartfelt. Every other solo film (and those Avengers films for that matter) possess their own stand-out sense of purpose. What works so well in the latest Marvel movie entry is that it straddles both worlds wonderfully. That is just what is needed, post-Endgame.
Jackson’s Fury is quite the in-demand character in the MCU. From his first appearance in Iron Man—where he served as the catalyzing force that brought together The Avengers—the character has firmly been the Avengers’ manager/coach/inspirational leader. Just this year alone, Fury found himself going back to the beginning in Captain Marvel (after all, just before he became dust at the end of Infinity War, it was Captain Marvel he paged to come save the day as half the world disappeared) and playing a pivotal role in Endgame. Now, with Far From Home, he is ushering in an Iron Man-less landscape. He believes that what Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) saw in Parker must be something special. So, it’s no surprise that his presence is richly intertwined throughout the next chapter in the Spider-Man solo saga. If he is a little hard on the young fellow, one can understand that—especially after everything we’ve been through of late.
Holland is mesmerizing and all sorts of impeccable as both Parker and Spider-Man. Since he first appeared in Captain America: Civil War, it has been crystal clear that Marvel has gotten the casting of this character flawlessly correct by going with the young British actor. What always appealed to me in the Spider-Man comics was how this was a teenager—a high school student with great aptitude and wanderlust in his veins, while simultaneously being as awkward as teenagers can be. That was never firmly present with the Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield incarnations of the webbed wonder. Longtime fans of the comics noticed it immediately in Civil War and it was even more pronounced in Spider-Man: Homecoming, Avengers: Infinity War and of course Avengers: Endgame. Now that he’s back doing his own thing in a flick that bears his name, it’s a fascinating character study to witness him navigate the demands of being a superhero that the world needs with the passing of Iron Man/Tony Stark, the aging of Captain America and of course, the loss of Black Widow … all while just wanting to be a normal kid.
For how MJ is painted in this Spider-Man universe, producers could not have selected a better actress to embody her than Zendaya. Of course, everyone knows that she is someone who firmly has a hold on Parker’s heart. With the youngster’s sole focus being lettering this lovely lady know how he feels. Every one of us current or former teenage males can relate, understand and even cheer this boy who is knocking on the door of manhood. The chemistry between Holland and Zendaya is painted with such a masterful brushstroke that viewers are firmly hoping that these two can skate past their awkwardness and make it happen. In the hands of these two young thespians, it is such a pleasant joy to witness—it is almost as if we forget that the fate of the world is once again being supernaturally challenged in a way that finds the world needing a hero of the highest order.
The addition of Mysterio/Quentin Beck and the Oscar nominated actor who portrays the enigma, Gyllenhaal, is a stroke of genius. The esteemed actor makes his comic book movie debut and commands the screen every moment he’s featured. Longtime fans of the comics know all-too well the role that Mysterio plays in this world. It takes an actor of Gyllenhaal’s mettle to make the Beck-Mysterio tandem work so well as it does in Spider-Man: Far From Home. There is a subtle grace to his performance that features him being as fearless as possible while remaining firmly elusive and enrapturing. Gyllenhaal embraces the challenge presented to him with such professional panache that comic book cinematic history will look back on this characterization with the highest of honors.
Director Jon Watts (Cop Car and the first Holland starring Spidey flick) and screenwriters Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers have joined forces to deliver a fan friendly feature that will find audiences cheering at all the right moments, laughing (quite often, actually) and yes, even mourning this post Endgame world. It is a landscape filled with mystery, given what we’ve been through over the last 11 years with Marvel stories that have pushed the envelope and changed Hollywood forever. There are a few drawbacks to this film that are worth noting. One involves the use of Jacob Batalon’s Ned. In the first film, he excelled as the “guy behind the computer.” Every hero needs one, and the way Ned was portrayed by Batalon—coupled with his chemistry with Holland—it was endearing and entertaining as all get-up. Sadly, in Far From Home, he has as much of a role to play in the plot, but it is lost in some tethered teenage follies that has his character rather wasted this time out. Also, the way the teachers are portrayed are completely stereotypical and might produce an eye roll or two.
Oh, and lest I forget—the action sequences are truly breathtaking and literally larger than life. They may feel a bit bombastic, but at this point in the MCU, producers and filmmakers must feel like they must throw everything and the kitchen sink into the mix to raise the bar that has been set so high over the last two dozen flicks. Watching Spider-Man battling these literal forces of nature (and dozens of drones whose entire purpose seems to be ruining Spider-Man’s day) is as thrilling as any rollercoaster ride.
For those who are looking for clues to how Phase Four will play out and where the MCU will head next, do not leave the theaters before those credits finish rolling. That’s all I will say, other than to imply that it is a fascinating premise set up by the closing of Phase Three and the door opening just ajar for Phase Four.
Grade: B+