Today’s quick review: Spider-Man: Far from Home. While on a European vacation with his class, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) wants nothing more than to relax, see the sights, and make a good impression on his classmate MJ (Zendaya). But his vacation is interrupted when Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) recruits him to help Quentin Beck (Jake Gyllenhaal), a hero from another dimension, prevent powerful beings known as Elementals from destroying the Earth.
Spider-Man: Far from Home is a superhero action comedy that picks up several months after the events of Avengers: Endgame. The movie sees Peter Parker enter a new phase of his life as he tries to balance his personal life, his obligations as Spider-Man, and a dangerous new threat. Far from Home has likable characters, fun comedy, and a healthy serving of action, but issues with its plot and tone make it a slight step down from Spider-Man: Homecoming.
The highlight of Far from Home is its character interactions. Tom Holland has settled fully into the role of Peter Parker, capturing the comedic and the dramatic sides of the character with equal skill. Jake Gyllenhaal slips naturally into a mentor role as Quentin Beck. Meanwhile, Peter’s class is an excellent source of comedy, with organic dialogue, memorable gags, and great performances from Jacob Batalon, Zendaya, and Tony Revolori.
True to its genre, Far from Home offers plenty of action. Quentin Beck and the Elementals are an execuse for detailed, big-budget special effects, and Beck in particular cuts an impressive figure. The action doesn’t hit quite as hard as other Spider-Man films, though. The nature of the Elementals means that Spider-Man is often relegated to crowd control, and there are only a few chances for him to show off his powers in a direct confrontation.
Far from Home is on shakier ground when it comes to its plot and its tone. The broad strokes of its plot work fine, an enjoyable adventure that advances Peter’s civilian life and his career as Spider-Man. But the movie isn’t always graceful about putting its ideas into practice, with a few clumsy moments required to make its plot work. The scope of the story is also a departure from Spider-Man’s roots as a neighborhood superhero.
Check out Spider-Man: Far from Home if you’re in the mood for feel-good action mixed with plenty of comedy. Critical viewers may be put off by flaws in its plot structure and tone, while purists will find that the conflict has little in common with a typical Spider-Man story. But superhero fans simply looking for a light popcorn watch will find that Far from Home is just what they are looking for. Steer clear if you haven’t seen Avengers: Endgame.
For a Spider-Man movie with a similar tone and a bit more polish, try Spider-Man: Homecoming. For a superhero comedy with a similar fun-loving attitude, try Shazam!.
8.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 to 8.0 for an enthusiastic cast, effective comedy, and solid action, hurt by slight issues with its plot and tone.