There’s no endgame in our favourite web slinger’s future.
In fact, the makers of Spiderman: Far From Home might be betting the franchise (the Marvel franchise, aka the most profitable franchise in existence) on the charm of one 23-year-old British kid.
Tom Holland (the best thing to happen to Spidey since that fateful spidery bite) has arrived to put the universe back together after the devastating effects of Avengers: Endgame.
We pick up with Peter Parker back at school (where the explanation for the five-year blip is provided) preparing for a European summer adventure. He’s hoping to put away his suit and focus on more important matters, like telling a girl just how much he likes her.
Sadly, once he arrives in Europe, the suit his Aunt May packed just in case, gets more use than anticipated when he comes face to face with the Elementals – monsters who take the form of earth, wind, fire and air.
Luckily, not far behind them is Quentin Beck, a man from another timeline and genius who is also a superhero named Mysterio, played by Jake Gyllenhaal.
This genius superhero arrives at just the right time because the Elementals are kicking spidey’s ass and he’s got museums to visit and elaborate first kiss plans to make!
On top of that, he’s lost without Tony Stark so what better time for a different genius superhero to swoop in and play father figure?
To say more would give away the twists and turns that the Marvel universe loves to throw at fans, so I will say only this – STAY AFTER THE CREDITS. It’s the first of two post-credit scenes that set up how the Avengers universe is going to work, and it’s a big old surprise you don’t see coming.
The film is a fun, lighthearted and much needed reprieve after the emotional devastation that was Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. While the Spiderman franchise has always featured the youngest Avenger, there has never been such a need to go back and just feel like a kid again – Tom Holland, Zendaya and bff Jacab Batalon make you feel 15 again within the first five minutes.
On top of the frivolous Euro vacation fun, the film also clearly draws inspiration from the action found in Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse.
The action scenes become more and more of a trip as the film goes on culminating in a final battle where it’s impossible to tell if anything is real.
Spiderman may be far from home in this latest flick but he’s right at home in his suit, slinging web and setting up the next era of the Marvel universe.
Spiderman: Far From Home is fun, fast paced, engaging and funny –the perfect way to spend a hot summer afternoon.
Vicky Sparks is a Bright’s Grove native and movie critic for Global TV’s The Morning Show, which airs nationally on Fridays. Her Journal Reviews cover movies playing at Galaxy Cinemas Sarnia