Spider-Man: Far From Home Movie Review

Tom Holland stars in Spider-Man: Far From Home

Is This Real?

Rotten Tomatoes Plot: Peter Parker returns in Spider-Man: Far From Home, the next chapter of the Spider-Man: Homecoming series! Our friendly neighborhood Super Hero decides to join his best friends Ned, MJ, and the rest of the gang on a European vacation. However, Peter's plan to leave super heroics behind for a few weeks are quickly scrapped when he begrudgingly agrees to help Nick Fury uncover the mystery of several elemental creature attacks, creating havoc across the continent! Directed by Jon Watts.

Starring: Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson, Zendaya, Cobie Smulders, Jon Favreau, J. B. Smoove, Jacob Batalon, Martin Starr, Marisa Tomei, and Jake Gyllenhaal

What's Good: Holland proves Homecoming was no fluke, with another charming, rock-solid performance. Unfortunately, the rest of the cast doesn't follow suit (see below.) There's still laughs to be had (EDITH, Night Monkey, Peter Tingle) but they're fewer and farther between. P.S. Great chemistry between MJ & Peter: We want more!

What's Not: Oh great, it's Nick Fury and Soren, again. Iron Man was a blast, but does Marvel have to wedge the dynamic depressing duo into every one of their movies (and for extended stints?) And Tomei's Aunt May. Do we need to be constantly reminded that she's kinda hot (for a woman in her mid-50s?) Rosemary Harris, we miss you. Lastly, a superhero is only as good as his or her foil, and the villains are absolutely dreadful/underwhelming. Writers Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers should be ashamed of themselves... This story stunk.

Budget: $160 million

Runtime: 129 minutes (Bombastic conclusion makes it seem (a little) shorter.)

Target Audience: Marvel fanatics. Folks on staycation.

Bottom Line: Spider-Man: Homecoming was our #1 film of 2017, but its sequel falls way short of expectations. Outside of Holland, and a few laughs here & there, this movie is a mess. Below average special effects, gosh-awful bad guys (or elements, even worse) and a myriad of flat jokes and flatter performances. How did something so right, go so wrong?

Grade: C+ (Thank goodness for Holland & Zendaya, or this grade could be much, much lower.)