SPIDER-MAN:
FAR FROM HOME
* * *
(More Marvel hero stuff)
If your brain is not completely saturated with Marvel heroes, “Spider-Man: Far From Home” opens by saying good-bye to Iron Man Tony Stark, who has joined Stan Lee in that comic book in the sky.
But have no fear. Stark has trained and instructed high schooler Peter Parker (Tom Holland) to take over his save-the-world duties.
Peter is off to Europe on a class trip, preoccupied with a huge crush on MJ (Zendaya), who is paying him little mind. Mayhem follows the group everywhere. We are introduced to superhero Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal), who turns out to be more than Peter bargained for.
There are huge battles with a water monster and a fire monster, as the group travels from Venice to Prague to Berlin and finally to London, making for a great travelogue before most of the cities are destroyed.
Samuel L. Jackson is back as Nick Fury, Jon Favreau as Happy, with Marisa Tomei as Aunt May, a far throw from the original sweet white-haired old lady. There’s lots of action, teenage banter, a few funny lines and, of course, the long fight to the finish.
Marvel fans are conditioned to stay after the credits for some important information, and this one reveals a rather strange message. The movie is over two hours long and is filled with the usual fine special effects.
Rated PG-13, with violence and some profanity.