Meta is a word that channels a phrase that’s used very frequently now. When I was a child meta wasn’t used too much and neither was porthole. Now those middle-elementary students are making porthole quips and the upper elementary kids are trying to grasp meta. Our first experience with the word, in a cinematic sense, was Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Movies that make use of meta in their plot have certainly increased, but it’s great to see it when they successfully pull it off. Spider-Man: No Way Home is a superhero meta that weaves together all of the aspects that people love from the webhead’s movies, the MCU, and to an extent, movies overall.
We saw the film again at home. It was the first time that our wife had seen No Way Home. The boys and I had seen it in theaters and really enjoyed it. Our wife has seen almost all of the MCU films, but not every Spider-Man movie. Her big-screen knowledge of stand-alone Spider-Man stopped when he was portrayed by Tobey Maguire.
It’s worth mentioning all of that because she did enjoy the film, but not as much as other MCU films. Some might think that’s a minute point, but No Way Home is technically a Columbia Pictures jam, that’s been distributed by Sony Pictures, but has the Marvel Studios logo just over the film’s title. That’s a lot of cooks in the kitchen and prior to Homecoming their track record with superhero movies had been OK, but not MCU epic.
Let’s be clear, all MCU films do not have the secret sauce that makes them enjoyable to fans and casual moviegoers alike. That’s what makes No Way Home so remarkable when you look at the totality of its journey. There were so many ways that Sony could’ve messed this movie up, yet they didn’t. Instead, it’s the rare movie that is incredibly re-watchable for superhero and MCU fans, in addition to having the right combination of heart and action to engage those who don’t know Garfield from Holland.
The villains in the film are great, but some are better than others. However, it’s the totality of their arc that works, which is surprising given the eyebrow-raising premise that Peter Parker has regarding how to send them all home. His idea flies in the face of some thoughts on villains, but it is in line with how Holland, and the current Spider-Man operate.
No Way Home is a big movie that’s spread out over four or five grand story arcs. As I type this I’m replaying the film in my head as to when they ended, counting the tonal shifts and realizing that I wouldn’t mind seeing the film again. The action sequences are fun and add to the character, as well as, this standalone film. The dialogue is great and gets even better when all three Spider-Man characters meet each other. Those scenes are so well done from a fan’s perspective that it’s one of the first that you’ll re-watch. They’re funny, seem improvised, and reward fans who came to the show wanting to see that infamous Spider-Man cartoon meme scene recreated. It’s the real meta deal, a self-aware film that makes us care about this made-up universe and three characters who’ve all played the same superhero. Viewers will especially enjoy Andrew Garfield and his performance. He’s having fun and will probably inspire folks to give his Spider-Man films another go.
Spider-Man: No Way Home is rated PG-13 for mild language and sustained action sequences.
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