Movie Review

Spider-Man: Far from Home gets too goofy for its own good

The events in Avengers: Endgame left a void in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which made it unclear which character would become the de facto leader. Tony Stark/Iron Man filled that role for 11 years, and his death is seismic both in how it impacts the storylines going forward and how the films themselves are perceived.

First out of the box in this new world is Spider-Man: Far from Home, which finds Peter Parker (Tom Holland), possible love interest M.J. (Zendaya), best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon), and others traveling to Europe for a class trip. After being blipped out of existence for five years, Peter would very much like to get away from being Spider-Man for a while, but Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) will have none of it.

That’s because creatures that can control the elements are popping up all over the globe, and Fury needs Spider-Man to help a new hero, Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal), fight the creatures. Peter must find a way to keep his friends safe while trying to save the world from destruction, all while still trying to find a way to remain as normal a teenager as possible.

The appeal of Homecoming, the first Spider-Man film to officially be in the MCU, was how fun it was. For too long, the character had been mired in dark storylines that failed to show how fun he was supposed to be. But there’s a fine line between fun and goofy, and Far from Home crosses that line early and often.

Instead of clever moments, there are jokes coming from almost everyone on screen, turning the comedy into overkill. More importantly, though, the existential threat that is supposed to be the elemental monsters comes in the form of some of the worst computer graphics the MCU has delivered in quite some time. None of it feels real, even in a movie sense, and the film suffers because of it.

There’s another important fault that can’t be fully detailed without going into spoilers, but the film contains too little explanation about certain things in the beginning and way too much exposition later on. There’s a very good reason for this, but it doesn’t make up for the fact that the way director Jon Watts and writers Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers structured the film hinders its effectiveness.

Holland, however, remains the gold standard for the character of Peter Parker/Spider-Man. His good looks, charm, and boundless energy are a perfect fit for the superhero, and he keeps the movie afloat even when it drags. Gyllenhaal hams it up quite a bit, but his presence makes for a nice addition. Save for Zendaya and Batalon, the additional material given to other supporting characters this time around was, while not quite wasted, a tad misguided.

After the emotional blast of Endgame and the near-perfect fun of Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far from Home is a big letdown. While still completely watchable for anyone who loves these types of movies, it makes for a less-than-satisfying experience overall.

Tom Holland in Spider-Man: Far from Home.

Tom Holland in Spider-Man: Far from Home

Photo by Jay Maidment

Tom Holland in Spider-Man: Far from Home.

Rivers wild

Ethan Hawke narrates new documentary that deep-dives into Texas rivers

Cropped still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

Cropped still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

The Rio Grande is one of the stunning subjects of Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers.

One Texas film icon passes the torch to another for a deep dive on Texas' river ecosystems in the upcoming documentary Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers. Matthew McConaughey narrated the original 2022 film, Deep in the Heart: A Texas Wildlife Story. Now Ethan Hawke narrates the follow-up, which will be in theaters September 25.

Deep in the Heart 2 is directed by Ben Masters, a nature-obsessed Texan who was born and raised in Amarillo and has followed wildlife around the state and beyond. Working with his crew at Fin & Fur Films, Masters explores the Rio Grande, the Sabine River, and the Neches River, a press release says, coming across otters, turkeys, alligator snapping turtles, and more.

This underwater shot was taken in San Marcos.Still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

The original Deep in the Heart took a broad view of Texas — both its landscapes and their inhabitants — while the "sequel," as the release calls it, specifically highlights water. Conservation is an important angle, and viewers will get a chance to consider how they could connect with and protect the ecosystems on their screens.

"Most of my favorite memories are on Texas Rivers," said Masters in the release. "I grew up on the Canadian, fell in love on the Brazos, got married on the Guadalupe, found adventure on the Rio Grande, and am raising my kids on the Colorado."

The filmmaker says that spending three years filming his natural subjects gave him "a newfound appreciation" for rivers and how distinct they are from one another.

Amazing cinematography was a hallmark of the original film, and the sequel offers more beautiful shots.Still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

"We spent months filming mountain lions on the Pecos, snapping turtles on the Neches, otters on the Sabine, fatmuckets on the Llano, and whooping cranes in the Guadalupe's Estuary," Masters said. "Editing the majesty of Texas Rivers into 80 minutes was a huge challenge, and I'm just incredibly grateful to work with such a talented team of cinematographers, editors, producers, and musicians."

Hawke, born in Austin and raised in Fort Worth, is known for acting in the Dead Poets Society, Gattaca, the Richard Linklater films Boyhood and Blue Moon, and more. He has taken up causes in environmental advocacy for years and appeared in other ecology-focused films, including the intense fictional First Reformed (2018) and a goofy anti-littering PSA with TxDOT (2023).

Some unexpected guests in the Rio Grande.Still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

The film was made in association with H-E-B, a regular supporter of ecological documentaries and initiatives, and conservation organization Texan by Nature. Other collaborators include producer Josh Winkler, editor Sam Klatt, assistant editor Chet Stefan, and composer Noah Sorota. The musical score is performed by Dallas Chamber Symphony.

animals documentaries ecology ethan hawke film matthew mcconaughey movies nature texas wildlife

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