In Far From Home, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is suffering from his own version of superhero fatigue. He’s tired of the explosions, bad guys, and responsibility. He just wants to go on vacation and focus on the girl he likes. An unmotivated and struggling Spider-Man is something we’ve seen before, albeit in a non-MCU film, and there’s much to explore in the personal depths of Peter’s duality.
Disney, however, is definitely not tired of the explosions, the bad guys, and the responsibility. In fact, Peter’s want for downtime is shelved to such an extent that, if it weren’t for the distractingly amusing on-screen adventures, it might start to look like a half-baked attempt at deepening this specific Spider-Man’s lore. But Far From Home is as much of a breather for us as Peter’s school trip (was meant to be) for him. The film is designed to fit around the explosive aftermath of Endgame, and it does – it’s refreshing to get away for a while.
“We’ve seen so many Spider-Man movies that there may not be much more untapped story to tell.”
Far From Home goes through the expected motions. We’ve seen so many Spider-Man movies that there may not be much more untapped story to tell. Yes, there will always be new villains to play with, more supporting characters, and fresh coats of paint. But after a number of (better) Spidey films, is there any part of the character’s ethos or purpose that hasn’t already been covered? If the answer is no, it seems likely that Marvel knows this.
While moves like skipping Uncle Ben’s demise – which was in danger of becoming the next ‘Batman’s parents die, again’ – allow us to explore what’s new instead of what’s already been seen. But the new is rarely substantial enough to feel like anything other than a movie that exists because it had to. Rather than one that was the vehicle for a great narrative fighting to get told.
But it’s not all plainness and disappointment, because just like in Spider-Man: Homecoming, Tom Holland’s undeniable charm and comfort in his role go a long way. And the supporting characters are just as funny and necessary as last time. Without them, the close-to-meaningless narrative would draw far too much attention to itself. Even though they’re mostly used as plot devices or for humour, they anchor the film and make it ever so slightly more real. Whether it’s Ned’s comedic relief, M.J.’s awkward romantic scenes, or Aunt May’s cute throwaway lines, they all help build heartiness.
“Just like in Spider-Man: Homecoming, Tom Holland’s undeniable charm and comfort in his role go a long way.”
One supporting character that seemed underutilised was Jake Gyllenhaal’s master of illusion Mysterio. Gyllenhaal’s performance is solid, and there are some spectacular action sequences that make use of Mysterio’s abilities, but he ultimately falls victim to the some of the same traps other MCU villains have done. His motivations and even his purpose for being in the film are rather unclear for the majority of the movie. In the first half of the film, it appears as if he might be used to drive home Peter’s struggles with stepping up to his heroic role. Much of this particular thread ends up getting lost in the movie’s predictably bland CGI fights and climaxes.
Although not currently providing the gravitas one might want from superhero affairs (it doesn’t come close to the soaring heights of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2 or last year’s Into The Spider-Verse) Far From Home deftly balances its excitability and watchable nature with the chord-striking leftovers from Endgame. Said leftovers might have been reheated in the microwave in an effort not to let any of the potent events go to waste. Though it doesn’t feel as contrived or forced as it could have done. Marvel’s universe is a changed one, and Far From Home serves as a delectable transition into the future. What it lacks in well-defined purpose it makes up for with its great humour and likeable characters.
Maybe not all Spider-Man movies need to be grounded in emotional treasures and realisations. Or maybe the high school dilemmas and light fluffing of the dramatic foundation laid by films past are enough – for many, it will be. Like Homecoming, finding words to express discontent towards Far From Home is rather hard, because it doesn’t do anything massively wrong. The faults are found in what’s lacking, and for different people, the amount missing will surely vary. Let’s face it though, these movies are adorable and charming – there’s no getting away from it.
“Maybe not all Spider-Man movies need to be grounded in emotional treasures and realisations.”
Far From Home is expectedly cutesy, and the international adventure provides new room for more of Peter’s difficulty managing his double life. But none of it is particularly striking in the way so many fans of the character would like it to be – there’s nothing elevating it past what it is. But for what it’s worth, if the goal was inoffensive and fun entertainment, it hits its mark.
It isn’t astonishing, amazing, or any other of the descriptive buzzwords attached to comic book titles – but it is a refreshing use of different locations and a breath of fresh air, however predictable it might be.
