Spider-Man: Far From Home Movie Review - Heroic, Relatable and Funny

By: Lynn Barker

In Spider-Man: Far From Home, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) has plans to leave the Spidey suit behind and, on a European vacation with his school pals, tell MJ (Zendaya) how he feels about her. He’s hoping for their first kiss. What he gets instead is a summons by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) to put on the suit, be the true Avenger Tony Stark thought he could be and help defend Europe against invading elemental (Earth, Fire, Wind, Water) creatures. And what is the true story behind Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) a superhero from the Multiverse who has come to help?

Spider-Man: Far From Home Movie Trailer

A New Threat

Following up on a report of a “storm with a face” that destroyed a town In Mexico, Nick Fury and Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) arrive to find the creature and a strange evident superhero battling it.

Fury and Hill arrive in MexicoCourtesy of Sony Pictures

Cool School Trip

Meanwhile, in New York City, we learn that the Midtown School of Science and Technology restarted its academic year after “the Blip” in which many students disappeared only to return 5 years later the same age while others aged those years. Everyone is shaken but continues with life as usual. Peter Parker, still mourning the death of mentor Tony Stark, decides to go on a European summer vacation with classmates and leave his Spidey suit behind. He tells buddy Ned (Jacob Batalon) his master plan to tell MJ how he feels about her on top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. While he is Spider-Man at home, he’s asked if he intends to replace Iron Man. This shakes him up.

Will Peter and M.J. be a couple? Courtesy of Sony Pictures

Duty Calls

Peter keeps getting calls from Nick Fury but he doesn’t take them.

Fury has plans for Spider-ManCourtesy of Sony Pictures

He appears as Spidey at an Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) organized fundraiser for people displaced by “the Blip". Happy Hogan (John Favreau) attends and falls for May. Before the trip Peter sees that Brad (Remi Hii) an older (due to Blip), hunky student, as eyes for MJ In Venice on the trip, Peter still can’t get close to MJ when a giant water “Elemental” rises from the canals and starts wrecking the city. Peter isn’t in his suit (which he learned Aunt May packed for him) so he has to secretly do what he can without it. The strange superhero we saw in Mexico comes to fight it as well, getting the credit for saving the city.

Peter doesn't have his suitCourtesy of Sony Pictures

A Legacy

Ned, who has fallen for classmate Betty (Angourie Rice) wants Peter to don the Spidey suit but Peter still wants a “normal” vacation. When Nick Fury arrives, angry about being “ghosted” by Peter, he gives Peter special glasses, a gift from Tony Stark that he has been holding. They link to E.D.I.T.H., a computer system that, since he is Tony’s chosen successor, allows Peter to use a defense and Stark communication network like no other.

Fury isn't pleased that Peter has been ignoring himCourtesy of Sony Pictures

Fury takes Peter to European SHIELD HQ where he meets Quentin Beck/Mysterio who is the superhero Peter helped in Venice. He’s from a parallel Earth (or a multi-verse) and tells Peter these are elemental creatures who destroyed his planet and are after our Earth next.

Peter is introduced to MysterioCourtesy of Sony Pictures

Reluctant Hero

Peter rejects Fury's plea for him to step up and help as a true Avenger. He rejoins his fellow students, almost using the glasses to destroy his rival Brad, but Fury covertly redirects the school trip's itinerary to Prague where the Fire Elemental is supposed to attack. Peter’s plans with MJ are again interrupted when the Fire Elemental appears at a carnival, but Beck, with Spider-Man’s help, destroys it saving Ned and Betty who were trapped on a Ferris Wheel.

Mysterio fights the ElementalsCourtesy of Sony Pictures

Fury and Hill want Peter and Beck to go to Berlin to discuss being part of a new Avengers team. Peter thinks he isn’t ready but he now considers Beck a friend and worthy of being Stark's successor so he gives him the E.D.I.T.H. glasses.

Can Mysterio and Spider-Man work together?Courtesy of Sony Pictures

Will Peter Step Up?

What will Beck/Mysterio do with control of E.D.I.T.H.? Will the Elementals prove more powerful than any superhero?  Will Peter step up as the true Avenger Tony Stark intended? Will he ever get to tell M.J. of his love? Can Peter gain the self-confidence he needs to win M.J. and be more than just a neighborhood Spider-Man?

Ned, Betty and M.J. are in troubleCourtesy of Sony Pictures

Stay in your seat for a mid-credits scene that further cements Peter and MJs relationship and also introduces major, unexpected trouble for Peter in future. An end credits scene offers a cute twist involving Nick Fury and some Skrulls (from the Captain Marvel film). There are also MCU Easter Eggs throughout the movie.

Spidey's new suitCourtesy of Sony Pictures

Wrapping Up

Spider-Man: Far From Home is charming, witty, romantic and action-heavy fun but the stakes are still seriously high especially for Spidey, as a mid-credits scene that is a great set-up for the continuance of the MCU attests.  There are some logic flaws in the villain’s operation but you probably won’t care and will just enjoy the action and relating to Peter who is trying to figure out who he really is, if he can get the girl he loves and if he can finally step up to honor a mentor who meant so much to him.

Swinging into action in LondonCourtesy of Sony Pictures

Tom Holland is spot-on as a young man with a lot on his plate trying to develop the courage and determination it takes to be a true Avenger. Zendaya is still great as sarcastic, smart and truthful MJ and Jacob Batalon is fun as Ned who worships Spider-Man but is besties with pal Peter.

Fury tells Happy to report to himCourtesy of Sony Pictures

There will be a split decision on whether the film, as the first after the emotional “Endgame”, is worthy of launching a continuing, changed Marvel Comic Universe but it stays true to Tom Holland’s portrayal of Spidey and might just launch the franchise in a new high stakes but sometimes light-hearted direction. We go four stars.

Spider-Man: Far From Home Movie Rating: 

Courtesy of Sony Pictures

See Spider-Man: Far From Home in theaters now!

What is Your Spidey-Sense Telling You?

Comment below or on your Kidzworld profile page to let us all know how you feel about the MCU after many of the Avengers were wiped out in “Endgame”.  What would you do if you were in Peter Parker’s shoes? Are you a fan of this new Spider-Man or not?