Spider-Man: Far From Home Review: Marvel Charm Works Again as Critics Are Raving About Tom Holland’s Superhero Film

With the upcoming film Spider-Man: Far From Home reaching the theatres on July 2 (July 4 in India), the Phase 4 of Marvel Cinematic Universe is officially coming to an end. Spider-Man: Far From Home may be the sequel to the 2017 film Homecoming, but it is essentially a followup to this year's Avengers: EndGame. We now have a movie where Peter Parker aka Spider-Man is dealing with a world post the Snap, having lost five years of time, and working without a mentor in Tony Stark, who died in the last film. Spider-Man: Far From Home Premiere: Tom Holland, Jake Gyllenhaal, Zendaya Look Absolutely Lustrous At The Red Carpet.

Spider-Man: Far From Home is directed by Jon Watts, and brings back Tom Holland as the lead hero. Along with Holland, some of his Homecoming co-stars are also returning, like Marisa Tomei as Aunt May, Jacob Batalon as MJ, Zendaya as MJ, Tony Revolori as Flash Thompson. Apart from these stars, Marvel stalwarts like Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan, Samuel L Jackson as Nick Fury and Cobie Smulders as Agent Maria Hill.

Marvel had screenings for the press in the USA, the embargo for which has been lifted on June 27. As expected, the reviews are quite in favour of the film, with particular praise in how it deals with MCU post-EndGame, Jake Gyllenhaal's antagonist Mysterio, and Holland and Zendaya's performances. Here are what some of the publications saying about the film:

CNET says, "Spider-Man: Far From Home manages to act as a sequel to both Homecoming and Endgame, giving us a superior followup to the former and a wonderful epilogue to the latter -- reminding us that MCU goes on in a joyous ride. Let's hope Phase 4 gives us plenty more Peter Parker."

The Guardian says, " Tom Holland is still very winning as Spidey, still living at home with his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) who is embarrassing him with her love life and by referring to her nephew’s spider sense as “Peter tingle”. J Jonah Jameson makes a brief, horrible return as a gruesome Alex Jones-style pundit, and Peter Parker has all sorts of dramatic new problems (it’s important to stick around for those post-credit stings)."

Variety says, "The key to the new movie’s appeal, apart from the fact that Tom Holland acts with far greater confidence and verve in the title role, is that the entire film is a bit of a fake-out, and I mean that in a very positive way. There’s a good twist, and it’s totally central (I won’t reveal it), but what’s resonant about it is that it enables “Far From Home” to play around with the very issue of what matters in a superhero movie."

Gizmodo says, "Kevin Feige has insisted that Far From Home is the end of Marvel’s Phase Three, and while that may technically be true, it’s also more. It’s a big, bold leap for Spider-Man into the future of Marvel’s films, and it’s got a strong upward swing that easily makes it one of the better Spider-Man movies in the character’s history."

Empire Online says, "Far From Home is a looser film than Homecoming, with pacing that occasionally slackens, and a compulsion to give every minor character time to shine. But it’s a light-footed summer blockbuster that faces Endgame’s monolithic legacy head-on, before leaving it behind to embark on its own globetrotting adventure. The MCU doesn’t need a new Iron Man yet — Far From Home proves it’s more than safe in the web-slinging hands of Spider-Man."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 27, 2019 08:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).