By Austin Hewu, 2023

Published 01/31/22

Spider-Man: No Way Home faced immense expectations. The latest installment in the beloved superhero series seemed to transcend the movie theater, becoming a holiday-esque event that marked the end of a tumultuous year in pop culture worldwide. And somehow, almost shockingly, Tom Holland and company lived up to these expectations, satisfying fans and critics alike and cementing No Way Home as a worthy addition to a legendary collection of films.

Of course, No Way Home is not a perfect movie. The plot at times feels a bit predictable (young, naive Peter Parker makes a mistake and spends the entire movie trying to clean it up). Just when it seems as though Spidey has found the cure to all of his problems, you realize that only an hour has passed on the clock, and think, “Surely the movie can’t be over already.” It isn’t - something immediately goes wrong and soon all the villains are on the loose once again. The plot is also weakened by the fact that the other characters associated with Parker are conveniently nowhere to be found. And if a simple shot of a cure is enough to take down the franchise’s most infamous villains, isn’t every problem in the MCU essentially resolved?

But for the sake of our own enjoyment, let us stop furiously dissecting the film for plot holes and focus more on the incredible performance set before us. What we have is a touching concoction of comedy, nostalgia, and heartbreak: a collection of powerful moments, carried by the phenomenal work of the star-studded cast and the rest of the Marvel crew. When Andrew Garfield saves MJ from falling to her death, the look of pride and redemption on his face can’t help but make you smile. The mirror dimension fight scene showcased near-perfect CGI, with the city revolving around Strange and Spider-Man in a kaleidoscope of color and energy. The movie’s main tragedy - the death of Aunt May - struck me in particular. Tom Holland looks up at the camera, covered by dirt and grime, tears streaming down his face, and all of a sudden you are reminded that he is still just a kid, but now faces the responsibilities and the grief of a man.

And finally, there was the ending. Peter Parker makes the ultimate personal sacrifice, and when MJ looks at the stranger that has entered her coffee store, the result is absolutely chilling. Peter suffers through unbearable losses, but the loss of his childishness, replaced with the maturity and selflessness needed to do the right thing no matter the cost, deeply resonates. The performances, the CGI, and the effects are all outstanding, but that is what is truly heroic about this film.