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Tying together the current MCU Spider-Man films and the two previous Spider-Man franchises, this film manages to advance story elements in a satisfying (but mostly predictable) fashion. The plot has some really good concepts that move the story forward from where it ended in “Spider-Man: Far from Home,” while still breaking new ground. Unfortunately, aside from a few twists, things mostly unfold exactly as you would expect from watching the trailer footage. (Also, a lot of the big surprises lost their impact due to internet leaks.) Thanks to strong acting by Tom Holland and Zendaya, Spidey’s story always stays grounded even with all the magic and multiverse craziness. The stuff brought in from the previous Spidey films works well and fits into this story while it’s all updated a bit. There is a nostalgia factor at play, but it all serves the greater story. The action is fine, but everything tends to feel a bit rushed. There is still a fair amount of humor throughout the film, but thankfully it’s toned-down a lot compared to the last film. While the conclusion doesn’t quite nail the landing, it leaves the story in a surprising place. There’s something to stick around for during the mid-credits and also after the credits. Both are worth checking out, but neither adds anything to this film’s experience.
**** out of *****