As much as I loved Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home takes what made it great and turns it up a few levels even further.

One one level, you have Spider-Man being Spider-Man. He’s a good kid, trying to make his way in life, trying to deal with the dual life of being a highschooler and being a superhero–of saving the world and perhaps getting the girl.

And then you layer all the weight of the greater MCU on top of it. This takes place just after Avengers: Endgame. So you have the fallout of Iron Man (Spider-Man’s mentor/Uncle Ben figure) being gone and Spider-Man having to step into those shoes, the first big mention of The Blip–and how you deal with coming back and the world has changed, and all sorts of dealing with a Nick Fury who’s lost several of his heaviest hitters.

And if that wasn’t enough, you have the first hints of a multiverse (even if *this time* it was all a lie ). Jake Gyllenhaal as Quentin Beck / Mysterio is a great addition to the series and the MCU. I so want to see more of him. We’ll just have to see.

Other things I loved:

• Spider-Man having to balance a post-Endgame world with trying to be more local (now that he knows the costs…)

  Peter Parker: [to journalists] Does anyone have any neighborhood questions?

• Ned and Betty’s Eurotrip relationship was adorable. They played it up in a way that wouldn’t work in a movie more focussed around it, but it was great this time around. And gave MJ some room to grow.

• Speaking of which, MJ! She’s delightful and quirky and gets a lot more to do this time around, which is great. I sorely hope she sticks around…

• Getting more Nick Fury*. He’s great.

  Nick Fury: We have a job to do, and you’re coming with us.

  Peter Parker: There’s gotta be someone else you can use. What about Thor?

  Nick Fury: Off-world.

  Peter Parker: Doctor Strange

  Maria Hill: Unavailable.

  Peter Parker: Captain Marvel.

  Nick Fury: Don’t you invoke her name!

  Peter Parker: I’m just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

  Nick Fury: Bitch, please! You’ve been to space.

• Awesome battle scenes. In particular, Spider-Man fighting against an entire world of illusions was amazing. It’s… a little hard to believe it could all be prepared ahead of time, but just let it go and it works!

Overall, even better than the first. I’m really looking forward to what in the world they can do in No Way Home…