Spider-Man: Far from Home Review

I left the theater full. I was stuffed with entertainment and skinny pop.

Far from Home is a surprisingly rich entree of action, humor, misdirection, and heart.

I was shocked to be so immersed in the inventive thrills that Watt's frames. The pace clips along steadily, aided by quick humor and Holland's excellent performance, once again proving that he is the best cast Spider-Man of all time. Gyllenhaal chews up his fair share of scenery, but maintains effortless charisma from start to finish. MJ, played by Zendaya, drags once again for the most part, and seems like an uninspiring choice for Peter's love interest, despite some slight chemistry in the latter half. Happy, Aunt May, Ned, and Nick Fury all have good moments and they fully flesh out the world around this version of Peter Parker, adding a lot of depth to his character.

Depth is the main addition to Watt's sequel; Homecoming was a mildly fun ride, but it did not carry the same narrative heft or tension. Peter's friends, family, and mentors have profound influence on him, because he is only 16. This youth is so real, and allows for forgiveness during his more hilariously idiotic moments. Watching him transform into the hero, just like his mentor Stark, is an absolute joy. Tony Stark's influence on the MCU as a whole is also explored. The weight of his and Thanos' actions carry lasting meaning, and that is what Feige's masterful universe building is all about.

This film came at a perfect time. Endgame left the MCU in a confusing place, and now I want to see Spider-Man save the day. I am so excited to see if they can build on this character, because I am starting to love him.

It is quite the task to create a relevant Spider-man flick in 2019, with 6 previous entries, but Feige and Watts still manage to put together an exciting joy ride that culminates in some of the best web slinging action since Raimi's Spider-Man 2. The best part -- I got to witness a 16 year old boy become Spider-Man.

8/10