The third instalment in the line of Tom Holland Spider-Man movies was perhaps one of the most highly anticipated movies of 2021. Set immediately after Spider-Man: Far From Home, this film is a whirlwind of emotions and action. It solidifies Tom Holland in his role as Peter Parker and continues to develop the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s expansion into a wider range of possibilities.
The excitement that this movie provides doesn’t really let up throughout its entire run. It dives right into the plot from the opening, and there’s hardly any time to breathe between action and character introductions. The visual effects in this film are also brilliant, borrowing much from Doctor Strange’s excellent visual sequences. The way people were whooping and hollering in the theatre would’ve deceived a passer-by into thinking that we were avid sports fans at a pub watching a live match.
Nostalgia is a potent force, and Marvel knows exactly how to wield it. The call-backs to past Marvel titles are well-placed, well-timed, and well-delivered. Surprisingly, none of it felt forced. However, despite the excellent execution of the references, this film is overly reliant on them. While someone who hadn’t seen any of the past two Spider-Man movie series (a.k.a. the Tobey McGuire and Andrew Garfield versions) would still be able to enjoy this latest instalment, the nuances and what really elevates this film to another level of enjoyment lies in the understanding of the wider MCU.
Peter Parker? I don’t know him.
