August 6, 2026 – When the current Spider-Man (played by Tom Holland) first appeared in this role 10 years ago, he was 20 years old, playing a teenager (he was 19 when filming began on “Captain America Civil War”). Now, at age 30, he's finally growing up.

For those of you who have been following Spider-Man, you know that he had to give up his friends and family in “Spider-Man: No Way Home” (2021) because of a slight problem with a multiverse magic spell. As we pick up his life in this movie, Spider-Man (AKA Peter Parker) is living alone, estranged from his former friend, Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon, reprising his role from previous Spider-Man movies) and M.J. Jones-Watson (Zendaya, also reprising her role). Neither Ned nor M.J. remember Peter because of the aforementioned magic spell cast by Doctor Strange at Peter's request.

Part of the reason Peter doesn't try to reconnect with his old friends is that being his friend is dangerous, but the loneliness of his existence is taking a toll. One day he runs across his old friends, which stirs up uncomfortable old feelings. At the same time he starts getting headaches and his body begins to change as the arachnid DNA in his system begins to become more active.

As his body begins to change, Peter starts loosing control, and starts becoming more violent. Taking a cue from Doctor Bruce Banner (AKA The Hulk, played by Mark Ruffalo, reprising his role), he figures out a way to repress the arachnid DNA and regain control, but this control comes at a cost, just as his isolation from his friends does.

A powerful mutant, Jean Gray (Sadie Sink of “The Whale”) attacks a secret government lab, run by William “Bill” Metzger (played by Tramell Tillman of “Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning”). Metzger asks Spider-Man to help capture her. Jean Gray (a character familiar to those who've seen the X-Men films) threatens Spider-Man, as well as Ned and M.J. She is a very formidable opponent.

Peter later finds out that Metzger lied to him, and Jean Gray is not who he thought she was. Spider-Man must take on powerful forces, including his own friend, the dangerous vigilante, The Punisher (played by Jon Bernthal, reprising his role from the Punisher and Daredevil TV series) who is determined to kill Jean Gray. In the process, Peter Parker must come to terms with his changing body and his own emotional needs.

Through it all, Spider-Man maintains his moral compass and does the right thing, when many of those around him do not. There is a lot of action in this movie. We get to see The Hulk on the loose again. There is a scorpion guy, too, who is possessed by Jean Gray for a time, along with The Hulk. There is also a group of super-powered ninja-like characters that Spider-Man must deal with.

Like the best of the Marvel movies, this one is loaded with action, with a satisfying emotional journey, powered by strong performances by Holland, Sadie Sink, Zendaya, Bernthal and Batalon. As usual, the stunt work and special effects are top-notch, as is the direction by Destin Daniel Cretton (“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”). I saw this in 3D, and the 3D visuals in this movie are solid. This film rates a B+

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