London Crawling.
129 Mins. Starring: Tom Holland, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jon Favreau, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Tony Revolori, J.B. Smoove, Marisa Tomei, Cobie Smulders & Samuel L. Jackson. Director: Jon Watts.
World wide webs weave as we go into the multi-verse along with a Spider to see how Peter Parker spent his Summer vacation. Roaming from the Venice, Italy Gondola watered streets. To English capitals that chime like Big Ben and every beautiful Berlin and Prague cobbled street in-between that hopes to web reach as high as Paris' Eiffel. The 'Homecoming' is over now. Far from it. Even if it has been the emotional 'Endgame' (THOSE LIVING UNDER A ROCK WHO HAVEN'T SEEN IT (WHAT THE HELL?!) LOOK AWAY NOW!!) for half of our super six, original Avengers. From Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow heroically meeting her maker and a very symbolic blood red like hair fall from Vormir. To Captain America's beautiful end, growing old and still slow dancing with his first love, Peggy into passing his shield retirement (*pulls up chair*, "so you gave back the Infinity Stones and decided to get you some of that life Tony told you about"). And of course the one snap that can't be taken back in a click of his fingers after Robert Downey Jnr's Iron Man met a stark end in the one and only seen by Strange way the world and everyone brought back could be saved. Don't feel so good? Well at least your, freindly neighborhood Spider-Man, Peter Parker is back in the Avenging New York City in the Iron Spider suit (and a noir stealth suit classic that has us thinking of Nic Cage) looking to lead now the original metal Marvel that started all this back in 2008 is dust. Looks like it's time for Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury to S.H.I.E.L.D. show up in the corner of a dark room again ominously, no ghosting. But first school is out for Summer. And it's time to Lampoon a vacation as this booksmart teen hero takes us away and back to those 80's John Hughes era movies once again like Olivia Wilde. Where globetrotting like Harlem (although the kids really from Queens) he'll meet a new enhanced super with what looks like one on his head in the form of hair and husband goals (I'd 'Brokeback' turn for you Donnie), Jake Gyllenhaal's mysterious Mysterio from the multi-verse (side note. After the amazing animated, Oscar winning, best Spider-Man movie (sorry 'Homecoming') Tom Holland wants to do a live action 'Spider-Verse' movie with Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire...now how ultimate would that be?). The great Gyllenhaal may have been beaten to Batman by R Patz, but 'Far From Home' he plays one of Marvel's most classic and complex character creations ever perfectly (fun fact fittingly he almost replaced Maguire in 'Spider-Man 2' too). Looking part Thor, Loki and all Strange with the Hollywood effects I've got my cape and fishbowl ready for this Halloween's costume. From rowing the Riviera to crossing Tower Bridge (not London Bridge as Happy and even this born Brit got confused. Come on it looks more like a 'London Bridge') and all the fire and ice (all the elements Mr. Sandman. Bringing a comic-book nerds dream) they battle in-between, this is truly a trip. Far out.
'Ragnarok' Revengers Thor and Valkyrie seem to have taken Asgard 'International' now and suited up for the 'Men In Black', after the Avenging blockbuster Summer season 'Endgame' began. Whilst an agent the M.C.U. want to recruit in the form of Keanu Reeves dog loving hero 'John Wick', like a Winter Soldier, shaggy haired shooting everyone in Bucky Barnes sight is facing his own 'Parabellum'. That is when he isn't helping the other Mickey of Disney's 'Toy Story' and Woody and Buzz save the day as his Canadian stuntman Duke Caboom. "Yes. We. Canada!" Talk about going beyond 'Infinity'. And with the 'Phoenix' of the X-Men going dark it looks like our friendly, neighborhood, "b### you've been to space", Spider-Man is all alone out here. But with Thor slices of pizza off world joining the Asgardian's of the Galaxy (how's that for a Vol. 3?), Hawkeye maybe getting his Ronin back on in Tokyo, Japan for his own Disney+ show and Professor Hulk working out the best of both worlds now his science bro is gone (we're still waiting on that Ruffalo solo movie worthy of the Jekyll and Hyde dichotomy of that lonely, sweet, Lou Ferrigno seventies show), it's on the most popular Marvel hero now firmly home in the M.C.U. to lead like the new Captain Marvel and the Black Panther King of Wakanda and a changing world. And Holland in Europe is just the ticket for your stamped passport. Especially for this Englishman in New York writer taking in 'Far From Home' in Spidey's Big Apple hometown for a midnight showing in the city that never sleeps for the week of the Independence Day, fourth of July fireworks. No spoilers, but in the final scene of this movie Spider-Man actually lands on the corner outside the same AMC theatre this writer watched the film in too. Now how's THAT for synchronicity? Despite the fact that Pete isn't even home this week (or is he?) and off to my side of the pond in a Euro exchange as London boy Tom Holland truly comes home. We're still amazed by this kids lip sync singin' in the rain to Rihanna's 'Umbrella' though (those legs), battling "are they? Aren't they?" Zendaya's Bruno Mars. But how about this reign? Now this amazing acrobat needn't worry about a big-three finish with Maguire and Garfield (although after this movie it's high time for Childish Gambino, Donald Glover's prowling nephew Miles Morales to enter this universe. And while we're here Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin from the Netflix 'Daredevil' series). Because when it comes to this verse, Tom is the one.
Still not to spoil things like Tom (or oh hai Mark Ruffalo), but with great vacations to the Vatican still come great responsibility. And we're talking about more than don't forget your toothbrush and pack an extra suit in case you mess up the first one. Thanks to Aunt May, played as loving as she is lovely by Marisa Tomei. Owning the role and the mothering of someone who knows what's best and all your dirty little secrets. Mum is well and truly the word as she teams ups with Petey's Spidey for a staged event that looks like something straight out the 'Civil War' comics reveal. And even though that fond father figure of RDJ's Iron Man is gone, there's still plenty of his Stark tech to go round (check out his iconic bifocals to see how he sees). Just like the assistance of his right hand man Happy Hogan and the original 'Iron Man' director that started all this off in 2008, Jon Favreau. The man who is currently literally bingeing Netflix with 'The Chef Show' (check out the 'Avengers Atlanta' table or the one where Gwyneth Paltrow doesn't even realize she was in 'Homecoming') based on his culinary, cinematic classic is doing a lot more here than teaching you how to grill a cheese sandwich or get the bags. You could almost say he's like an uncle. And with brilliant best friend Ned, played perfectly by Jacob Batalon, falling for Cupid's arrow and Nick Fury's trank dart. The guy in the chair keeps spinning. But it's the stage set for 'Greatest Showman' actress Zendaya and Holland, swinging through this concrete jungle to show you how real and raw that unspoken thing, teenage love really is in fond New York nostalgia. Who else with the air up there like 'Spider-Verse' Jordan sneakers to play M.J. but this 'Euphoria' superstar and superhero of our time? Perfect in how she plays this all so differently and her way like the mob of Tony Revolori's Flash character running his mouth like his dad's car and allowance. There's plenty of elder supervision however in Jon Watts' electro charged, plucky sophomore sensation. Just like 'Curb Your Enthusiasm', anything he says is funny (and not just because of that lisping voice) teacher J.B. Smoove. Making the leap from a driver's ed Audio commercial promoting 'Homecoming'. Oh snap! And what Marvel film would be the same without Samuel L. Jackson returning to his patch this year in a calendar with even more movies for the guy that's in every other one anyway? From finally getting sequels to his 'Glass' and 'Shaft' franchises. To this bad ("shut your mouth") teaming up here like with his own CGI de-ageing one in 'Captian Marvel' to show that the leather clad Fury is back and here to stay, just in the nick of time. And the 70 year old with no sign of stopping and still the best lines in this movie and his career is flanked by his right hand agent, in S.H.I.E.L.D. star Cobie Smulders. Bringing back that Danvers like buddy cop, spy dynamic that they did so well remembered in 'Assemble' and Cap's 'Winter Soldier' before going dark and 'Infinity War' blipped. And check out some hilarious highlights and explanations to how all of that Thanos finger snapping effects your term time and extra credit. But it's the great Gyllenhaal who steals the Spidey sense show here, making everything else less than Jake. Even if he does spend most of his time with his head in a snow globe like those Ferrell Elf's telling us it's just over twenty weekends to Christmas (wishing the year away is my favourite) now. Gyllenhaal brings a goblin green big smoke like mystery to his Mysterio machine character complete with what looks like Stark technology, Asgardian regalia with a Vision touch and Strange symbols to the electric feel. The 'Donnie Darko' and 'Nightcrawler' actor's (who has been so good of late in dramas like 'Wildlife' and 'Stronger') super has all the powers and to his friend Parker, all the charm. The chemistry and budding bromance (I'm not jealous...honest) between Jake and Tom extends to the red carpet, where they wore matching 'Roxbury' head nodding suits for a night at the premiere. And to all those familiar to the comics just wait until you see what the M.C.U. does with this classic Marvel characters origin story in a hallmark but homaged to modern times twist. How Marvel managed to spike this punchbowl is one of their greatest feats yet. How they could make something ridiculous seem so real. The vivid, hallucinogenic Mysterio musing scenes make for a 'Verse' animated inspired, CGI fever dream that works wonders when other Hollywood powerhouses ('Last...UH HUM...Jedi') dont. It's a better trip then rolling London, Prague and Berlin all in to one. So stamp your passports and suitcases because this wild ride is so much more fun than the epic 'Endgame', just like last summer's picnic refreshing 'Ant-Man and The Wasp' was to the 'Infinity War', I don't feel so dust. Or in the aftermath like 'Homecoming' was dealing with the fallout of 'Civil War'. But just like cheese sandwiches in Philly there's still plenty at stake for two of the best, meaningful and well worth sticking around for post credits scenes (even at half two in the AM after a seven hour flight) that we won't talk about but wish we could. Just believe us, trust. The epic energy and sweet emotion of this scrappy teen superhero flick at times is messy, but that's just the true tone of this madness messing with you. It's high-school! What else do you expect? Hormones are everywhere. And as this 'Homecoming' king graduates to a whole new level, taking others to school, he's far from done. This superior sequel is truly amazing bringing a new chapter to this verse. This Spider-Man can do whatever he can. Now our Spidey senses are Peter tingling to what they web up next. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Spider-Man: Homecoming', 'Spider-Man: Into The Spider Verse', 'Avengers: Endgame'.
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