Marvel’s newest addition to their cinematic universe is “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” the second Marvel movie to utilize hero Spider-Man as the focal point of the film. It was released just before Independence Day, on July 2, and has exceeded all expectations in terms of box office revenue.
Its success comes from a variety of factors, not least of which is the loyalty of Marvel fans to the franchise in general- after more than a decade of building dedication to the team of superheroes that Marvel and Stan Lee have created, many people are committed to watching any new film put out by the studio, simply trusting that the quality will be up to their standards.
Enthusiasts particularly trusted the quality of Spider-Man, a long-time favorite of comic-readers and movie-goers alike. True to form, “Far From Home” satisfied these web-slinging superfans with several classic, intricate, and entertaining action scenes that compiled Spider-Man’s creative battle tactics with his quick wit and sense of humor.
Speaking of humor, the entire film was highly comedic, a welcome change after the grim outcome of “Endgame,” the Marvel franchise addition directly preceding “Far From Home.” In fact, the entirety of the film worked to soften the blow of “Endgame,” and successfully allowed fans to breathe more easily again, knowing that previous characters’ arcs were finally fully wrapped up, and knowing that Marvel would continue on with as high-quality and hilarious of movies as they always had in the past.
That said, the extensive ties back to “Endgame” could make it difficult for those who have not been in touch with Marvel productions for at least the last couple of years to fully comprehend the plotline. Certainly, they will be able to understand the basic framework of the movie, and laugh at the jokes, but there will be many small moments when the audience reacts to something they’re not caught up on, or characters to whom they don’t understand the relation to Spider-Man. The movie will most likely be good, but not as great and meaningful as it could be, for a newbie to the fan base.
What would make new people jump on the bandwagon this far in anyway?
In short, the actors. According to variety.com, a disproportionate number of audience members for “Far From Home,” at about 60%, were under the age of 25, many eager for a chance to see either Spider-Man actor Tom Holland or love interest “MJ” actress Zendaya, who is also known for her other work on Disney Channel, HBO, and more. This pair themselves are young, both in their early twenties, and have amassed quite a loyal following. Jacob Batalon, playing the role of Ned, Peter Parker’s best friend, and Jake Gyllenhaal, playing the role of Mysterio, a new “mentor” for Spider-Man, are also popular, especially Gyllenhaal as a long-time actor.
Some have even called Holland the “best Spider-Man,” a heated debate due to this being the third iteration of the hero in film. Older people argue for the nostalgic value of Toby Maguire, the original Spider-Man, while youth fight for “their” Spider-Man to come out on top.
Regardless of who plays the character, this teenaged hero has always been a favorite due to his quick wit and relatability. “Far From Home” lives up to those expectations, focusing largely on a fun, realistic and lighthearted high school adventure, just becoming a little bit more extreme when saving the world is thrown in the mix.
