“SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME” covers three bases – and that’s a good thing…
Number one: It’s the sequel to 2017’s “SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING”.
Number two: As the 23rd film set in Marvel’s Cinematic Universe it’s a natural progression of recent events in the series.
Number three: It’s a welcomed travelogue to places and settings which not only add to and broaden the storyline but make for fun eye candy as well.
So you just knew that “AVENGERS: ENDGAME” wasn’t really the end.
Hence putting the follow up on the shoulders of bashful web-slinger Peter Parker (a.k.a. Spider-Man) who is still in mourning over the death of his mentor Tony Stark.
And you just know there will be NEW threats to deal with.
So why a Spidey European vacation?
Settings like Venice, Prague, Berlin and London certainly give the movie makers fascinating new directions, not to mention exotic visuals of interest.
An international getaway (putting it mildly) involving all sorts of mysterious attacks now make this class trip much more than their travel agent had promised.
A LOT MORE!
Tom Holland, back again in the title role, is certainly up to the task playing well opposite the likes of Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Jon Favreau in the role of Happy Hogan and Jake Gyllenhaal playing Quentin Beck/Mysterio, a master of trickery and illusion who claims his origin to be Earth-833 in the Multiverse.
All that plus classmate friend and eventual love interest Michelle (‘MJ’) Jones played in typical young love fashion by Zendaya.
If there is a negative with this (estimated) $160 million superhero production is that it seems to slow down about halfway into its two hours+ running time. A few nips and tucks—say to an hour and forty five minutes—would’ve made everything even more enjoyable. But that’s just me.
All in, a fun trip to the movies with Spidey’s European vacation ultimately delivering more than he had bargained for.
“SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME” grades a: B.
(Opens wide on July 2)
