Looking back on it, I'm shocked that Spider-Man: Far From Home is only two hours long. There were multiple times I thought the movie had ended, and was then shocked by a new twist that led to even more trippy insanity, and by the time I left the theater, I was certain I must have been there for hours, because so much had happened. But nope, Marvel somehow manages to beat the space-time continuum and create movies jam-packed with plot and wit that feel so rich and meaty and yet seem to get over in no time at all. It's like eating a steak that feels like a souffle. Or maybe the other way round? I don't know, this movie has thrown my metaphors for a loop.
The action picks up after Avengers: Endgame, where half of humanity has re-appeared after five years, after the event known as the "blip." Those who were blipped out when Thanos snapped his fingers haven't aged, so in Peter Parker's (Tom Holland) case, he's in high school with some classmates the same age as him, and others who grew up in the intervening five years. Best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon) and unrequited crush MJ (Zendaya) thankfully stayed the same age, and they are all about to head to Europe for a school science trip. Peter has plans to tell MJ how he feels and basically just enjoy himself like an ordinary high school teenager, putting aside all the superhero stress for a while. However, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) has just returned from being blipped himself and is keen to re-start the Avengers initiative following the loss of both Iron Man and Captain America. Tony Stark handpicked Peter to be his successor, so Nick demands that he step up. Unfortunately, Peter is terrified at the prospect, and avoid Fury's calls in the hopes that he can just ignore his responsibilities and enjoy a Euro trip.
Naturally, that cannot happen. Fury has his ways, and before he knows it, Peter is forced to don the Spidey suit and work alongside a superhero from another dimension named Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) to save Europe from a bunch of destructive creatures called Elementals. Mysterio is a perfect partner and together, the two make quick work of these villains. At which point I thought the movie was winding to a somewhat safe and insipid conclusion. But this is Marvel we're talking about. They had more than one trick up their sleeve.
I can't go into more detail about this movie without giving away masses of intrigue and amazing plot that delighted me from start to finish. Even though Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse was a standalone film, there are elements of Far From Home that feel inspired by that movie, with its intricate plot and sophisticated silliness. Suffice to say, I left the theater texting my friend Ben, "is nothing real?!" It truly is a trippy film, filmed with impeccable visuals that continually pull the rug out from under you. And of course, it's brimming with jokes, sight gags, and all manner of levity, never allowing the tone to get too somber or self-important. That is evident from the opening scenes of this film, where we have to acknowledge the extremely sad events of Avengers: Endgame, but in a hilarious fashion that makes it clear that this movie isn't going to waste too much being maudlin. It's time to launch a new phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Spider-Man is going to lead the charge.
Spider-Man: Far From Home is super fun and super satisfying, a perfect way to recover from the high-stakes angst of Avengers. Tom Holland is on top form, and I'm totally on board for him to take over top Avenger status. It seems fitting that Jon Favreau is back as Happy Hogan, Iron Man's right-hand man who now has to help out Peter, because Favreau was the director of the very first Iron Man and kick-started this whole juggernaut in the first place. So if you thought Marvel wouldn't be able to recover after all the losses of the Avengers, boy do you you have a lot to learn. Strap in and get ready for twenty-two more films.
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