Spider-Man: Far From Home - Review
Director: Jon Watts
Cast: Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson, Jake Gyllenhaal, Cobie Smulders, Jon Favreau, Marisa Tomei, Jacob Batalon, Zendaya
Coming a mere three months after Avengers: Endgame, the cinematic event that left audiences reeling, Spider-Man: Far From Home deals with the consequences of the time-travel epic and explores how the web-slinger is adjusting to a world *SPOILER* without Tony Stark.
Having returned from "the Blip" that vanquished half of the universe and helping to defeat Thanos, Peter Parker (Holland) hopes to embark upon a school summer vacation where he can sightsee and romance M.J (Zendaya). His plans for rest and relaxation are thwarted when creatures called Elementals surface and begin to wreak havoc across Europe and he is recruited by Nick Fury (Jackson) to fight them alongside a new superhero, Mysterio (Gyllenhaal).
One of the opening scenes in Far From Home humorously pays homage to the fallen Avengers who sacrificed their lives to defeat Thanos in the form of a cheesy and poorly-made PowerPoint, signalling a departure from the melancholy of Endgame and a return to the fun tone of Spider-Man: Homecoming. Peter is settling back into the rhythm of high-school and balancing his duties as the friendly neighbourhood hero by making public appearances for his Aunt May (Tomei). However, amidst all of the folly, Peter shows signs of struggling under the burden of the expectations placed on him and the memory of his iconic mentor Tony Stark ever present as the world mourns his presence and projects their desire for a new hero onto the reluctant teen.
This development of the character is a fitting one considering the circumstances that he has had to endure, and he understandably wants to relish his upcoming European vacation that promises culture, tranquility and potentially love. Tom Holland continues to impress in a role that appears tailor-made to suit his strengths as an actor and he shines even when the material he is given proves lacklustre. Recurrent jokes don't pack the punch that they aim to and dynamics (particularly Peter and Ned's) that were so popular in the first instalment are not fully explored to the same effect.
Although, there are two emerging relationships that transpire to be the film's most interesting elements. Peter and the delightfully deadpan M.J dance around their true feelings for one another in typical teenage fashion, neither one of them confident enough to be honest about their mutual attraction. Peter's plan to confess his crush and gift M.J with a black dahlia necklace (inspired by her fascination with the notorious murder) is scuppered time and time again as he is summoned by Nick Fury to perform his heroic duties. In his times of strife and internal conflict, Peter turns to Beck, a new hero on the scene who battles the Elementals. Oscar-nominated actor Jake Gyllenhaal makes his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut as the enigmatic figure who allows Peter to confide in him his most personal troubles. It's a role that Gyllenhaal could play in his sleep, but Beck is given nuances and reveals that add layers to the character.
An eager cast and the film's lively, youthful energy cannot detract from its overcrowded and formulaic narrative, but the explosive mid and end credits sequence promise an exciting and challenging future for the character going forward.
EB
Cast: Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson, Jake Gyllenhaal, Cobie Smulders, Jon Favreau, Marisa Tomei, Jacob Batalon, Zendaya
Coming a mere three months after Avengers: Endgame, the cinematic event that left audiences reeling, Spider-Man: Far From Home deals with the consequences of the time-travel epic and explores how the web-slinger is adjusting to a world *SPOILER* without Tony Stark.
Having returned from "the Blip" that vanquished half of the universe and helping to defeat Thanos, Peter Parker (Holland) hopes to embark upon a school summer vacation where he can sightsee and romance M.J (Zendaya). His plans for rest and relaxation are thwarted when creatures called Elementals surface and begin to wreak havoc across Europe and he is recruited by Nick Fury (Jackson) to fight them alongside a new superhero, Mysterio (Gyllenhaal).
One of the opening scenes in Far From Home humorously pays homage to the fallen Avengers who sacrificed their lives to defeat Thanos in the form of a cheesy and poorly-made PowerPoint, signalling a departure from the melancholy of Endgame and a return to the fun tone of Spider-Man: Homecoming. Peter is settling back into the rhythm of high-school and balancing his duties as the friendly neighbourhood hero by making public appearances for his Aunt May (Tomei). However, amidst all of the folly, Peter shows signs of struggling under the burden of the expectations placed on him and the memory of his iconic mentor Tony Stark ever present as the world mourns his presence and projects their desire for a new hero onto the reluctant teen.
This development of the character is a fitting one considering the circumstances that he has had to endure, and he understandably wants to relish his upcoming European vacation that promises culture, tranquility and potentially love. Tom Holland continues to impress in a role that appears tailor-made to suit his strengths as an actor and he shines even when the material he is given proves lacklustre. Recurrent jokes don't pack the punch that they aim to and dynamics (particularly Peter and Ned's) that were so popular in the first instalment are not fully explored to the same effect.
Although, there are two emerging relationships that transpire to be the film's most interesting elements. Peter and the delightfully deadpan M.J dance around their true feelings for one another in typical teenage fashion, neither one of them confident enough to be honest about their mutual attraction. Peter's plan to confess his crush and gift M.J with a black dahlia necklace (inspired by her fascination with the notorious murder) is scuppered time and time again as he is summoned by Nick Fury to perform his heroic duties. In his times of strife and internal conflict, Peter turns to Beck, a new hero on the scene who battles the Elementals. Oscar-nominated actor Jake Gyllenhaal makes his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut as the enigmatic figure who allows Peter to confide in him his most personal troubles. It's a role that Gyllenhaal could play in his sleep, but Beck is given nuances and reveals that add layers to the character.
An eager cast and the film's lively, youthful energy cannot detract from its overcrowded and formulaic narrative, but the explosive mid and end credits sequence promise an exciting and challenging future for the character going forward.
EB
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