When the trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home came out, it was pretty evident that Marvel was gunning for one of their most ambitious project of all time. Spider-Man: No Way Home is a movie that’s 14 years in the making, and somehow it gets the job done right!
In hindsight, the plot is pretty simple. The movie starts right where Spider-Man: Far From Home ends, as Tom Holland’s Peter Parker sees his life change in a flash. As the world has found out the Scarlet spiders’ true identity, he has to protect his loved ones and complete his greatest challenge yet, get into college!
As a result, a struggling Peter Parker ends up at the doorstep of an old ally, the Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Strange himself. As Strange agrees to cast a spell to make everyone forget who Spider-Man is, a mistake in the spell brings everyone who knows Spider-Man’s true identity, from any dimension that exists. Now Peter has to send everyone back and help Doctor Strange conceal your identity.
The movie walks on a tightrope between terrible fanservice and an amazing fanboy experience, and somehow, it ties everything together perfectly. Most of the returning cast get to shine in the little time they have. From Alfred Molina’s Doctor Octopus understanding the flaws in his motive to Willem Dafoe not pulling the punches for one last ride, Spider-Man: No Way Home is everything a fanboy would ever ask from their favorite fanboy movie!
But, with a fanboy experience this immersive, there’s always a catch, and this movie is no different.
The two most talked about guest appearances are handled with the appropriate care and detail. There’ also the almost forced execution of the “With Great Power There Must Also Come Great Responsibility” schtick from Aunt May. Also, with so many characters, some of the moments feel very rushed and the pacing might seem too off at times.
That said, Spider-Man: No Way Home is a very satisfying experience that will leave you content with the overall experience. And with Peter Parker starting his new life in a world that doesn’t remember him, and the multiverse finally at play, Marvel has a lot on their plates, and how they manage the superhero fatigue is the biggest challenge for Kevin Feige and the team!