Spider-Man: No Way Home

Certificate: 12A

Starring: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch

Release date: 2021

4 out of 5

4

Tom Holland’s third outing in the Spider-Man costume is the one we’ve all been waiting for – an action-packed, well-thought out adventure that is what every comic book movie should be: fun.

Picking up from the end of Far From Home, where Peter Parker (Holland) was revealed as Spider-Man to the world, the new movie has Peter having to live with the fact that everyone knows who he is, and not everyone is a fan. When just being associated with him causes problems for girlfriend MJ (Zendaya) and best pal Ned (Jacob Batalon), Peter decides the world would be much better if he could turn back time so no one would know his dual identity.

However, when he asks Doctor Strange (Cumberbatch) for help, the magician says a time incantation is impossible, but one that would make everyone forget Peter is Spidey could be the solution – that is until the spell goes wrong and bad guys from other universes who know Peter Parker is Spider-Man start turning up in our Peter’s reality, causing chaos.

Without revealing too much, the characters in the Spider-Man multiverse who zap into this adventure are a treat (especially for fans), with each arrival even better than the last (and Willem Dafoe as the Green Goblin the best ever). Even if trailers and Twitter gossip have spoiled the surprise, every twist is enjoyable, and everyone on screen gets a chance to have their own special moment.

The effects, as you’d expect, are terrific, the script is sharp (and whoever decided to get Cumberbatch to say ‘Scooby Doo’ not once but twice, deserves a screenplay Oscar) and the performances are great, with more than one likely to bring a tear to the eye.

Stay for the funny mid-credits sequence and the one at the end (which is really more of a trailer) and then come back for another sitting to catch all the clever little moments for a second time.

Is Spider-Man: No Way Home suitable for kids? Here are our parents’ notes...

This movie is aimed at older kids, teens and adults. Some of the bad guys may be a little scary to younger children.

There are some violent scenes which may not be suitable for the under-8s.

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