Finally went to go see SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME – THE MORE FUN STUFF VERSION this afternoon and you know what, I really REALLY loved it – even more than the original edit I watched back in December. I liked NO WAY HOME but the further away I got from it, the more issues I had. It seemed like its strengths were callbacks and nostalgia of other films and I kind of held it against the film that it didn’t feel like a true sequel to the two previous MCU Spider-Man films: HOMECOMING and FAR FROM HOME, both of which are in my top 5 MCU films (and HOMECOMING is my favorite MCU film). I’ve watched HOMECOMING more than 20 times and FAR FROM HOME close to that number. I’ve watched NO WAY HOME once.
But the good news is that the MORE FUN STUFF version has fixed a lot of those issues for me and while I would give the original version a still solid 4/5 stars, I would give this version 4.5 out of 5. It is still my least favorite of the trilogy but that’s not a ding when the others are such massive favorites for me.
So made me give this film that bump?
1. The Newer, “Longer” First Act…
And especially the first 30 minutes of the film. These changes make this film feel like Peter’s world again. One of the things I loved about the MCU’s Spider-Man is that his films felt like HIS world, not an extension of The Avengers. They also felt like natural sequels to each other – even though they came before and after INFINITY WAR and ENDGAME. To me that’s because of the world around Peter – the students and teachers of Midtown High, Aunt May, and even Happy Hogan. Sure some of this was the inherent fact that the films were being released by a different studio and could not rely on many parts of the worlds normally featured in Disney’s MCU films. But I also think the writers created a world with characters and responsibilities outside of the MCU. This was largely lost in the original version of NO WAY HOME. But not anymore.
This first act feels the most expanded of the three acts of the film. There are a good 5-7 minutes of added scenes and different takes in the first 30 minutes of the film that make the film more a piece of that world. We get longer scenes with MJ after Peter is doxxed by J. Jonah Jameson. We also get plenty more scenes in and around Midtown High. We see the high schoolers react to their new celebrity classmate.
And we also get an entirely new scene set in gym class where Coach Wilson (Hannibal Burress) makes Peter crawl up the gym wall to amuse him and Peter’s fellow students. It’s humiliating for Peter but it grounds us in that world of Midtown High that was so much a part of HOMECOMING and FAR FROM HOME and it made me feel like the this was an actual sequel to those films – something that I loved about the world of Peter Parker – instead of a more standalone adventure like the THOR or CAPTAIN AMERICA sequels.
Also now with this longer first act with more world building, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield do not arrive as their universe’s respective Spider-Man till about 90 minutes into the film, which to me makes it feel less intrusive and less about their nostalgic cameos – and more like supercharged special guest stars that the third act needs.
2. More Betty Brant
Angourie Rice’s Betty Brant was one of the undeniable scene stealers from the first two Spider-Man films: her newscasts, her relationship with Ned… And so it was kind of a bummer when she got one line in NO WAY HOME. But in this version she gets quite a few added scenes, is the focal point of the post-credits (more on that in a second), and we even get closure on her relationship with Ned and their subsequent break-up after returning to the US from abroad. And we get extended scenes of Betty Brant covering the arrival of Peter Parker – including a High School, Wendy Williams-esque talk-show where Betty interviews Flash, Ned (and even makes reference to their relationship in the last film), Coach Wilson, Mr. Harrington, and Peter.
3. Different Line Readings
It is hard to track which line readings in the MORE FUN STUFF version are different – but things did feel different at different times in the film. Not helpful, but there is ONE that I really noticed. It’s when Peter first show’s up at Aunt May’s kitchen to confront Green Goblin. When his mother introduces Norman Osborne, Peter says, “Norman… (PAUSE), I thought you were…” and then Aunt May interrupts him. In the original version it’s a much more rushed reading and you don’t even really think about it. If anything, you think that Peter is referring to the fact that he thought Norman would be attacking his mother.
But in this slower version, it feels like he is about to say, “Norman — I thought you were DEAD.” And I get it – Otto Octavius had told Peter back in the Undercroft that Norman was dead. But it feels like that’s not what Peter is reacting to. Now I know it probably is but this new line reading really made me think. It made me think that there WAS a Norman Osborne in the MCU but that he died in this universe. It really becomes fun to speculate about when you consider we may have another trilogy of Spider-Man films or maybe no more Spider-Man films. Either way it helps to explain the absence of Norman thus far in the MCU, if only my assumption and speculation of those with too much time on their hands like me.
Look most of these line readings are not going to change the film in any material way but they really made it a lot more fun for speculation. And that alone is the MORE FUN STUFF version.
4. More Bonding Between The Spider-Men
There is an extended bit of bonding on the statue of liberty where the trio of Spider-Men discuss Tobey Maguire’s webs, Peter’s travels into space, and Andrew’s fight with the Rhino that goes on a little longer than as presented in the original cut.
The film may not have needed it from a plot standpoint but from a character standpoint it was really wonderful.
5. More Matt Murdock
Less is not always more. And I think most could have used more Matt Murdock in this film. He really only appears in one full scene in the film but in this version he has a few more smaller lines as well as a much longer scene featuring him defending Happy Hogan in front of Damage Control. This scene was great for a few reasons: more Matt and more Damage Control.
As we all know now that Matt Murdock will be getting his own Daredevil series on Disney Plus and will also be appearing on SHE-HULK in the coming weeks, I think his larger presence in this film helps establish him as a larger part of the MCU and of super-hero crimes – which is especially helpful for his upcoming run in SHE-HULK. And it would have also been helpful for Damage Control’s presence in MS. MARVEL.
It also, counter-intuitively makes his earlier scene in the original version of the film feel less like a cameo. I think this is largely because Jon Watts is such a gifted director. I know this is the first time I’ve mentioned the trilogy’s director and that is a shame because I do think so much of what I loved about this trilogy is not just because I am a Spider-Man fan or because of Tom Holland’s performance but because of Jon Watts. Throughout the trilogy, Watts specifically is able to make actors with even one or two scenes (like the aforementioned Betty Brant) really stand out and feel like they are part of the greater story – even when they are there largely for world-building and less for plot. And he does that again when he is given the chance to add a scene and really let Matt Murdock’s character breathe.
Bonus: The Post Credits
The post credit scene at the very end of the film has been replaced (expectedly). It is no longer the trailer for MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS (as that film came and went months ago) but now rather a montage of photos featured on one of Betty Brant’s high school news broadcasts. The montage is spotlighting the senior class that is about to graduate and even includes students that have come and gone from the trilogy – like Liz Allen. But sadly, it does not feature Peter Parker. Although the mood is light-hearted and fun superficially – and even includes a photo of Betty returning from the blip for comedic purposes – it plays much darker under the surface.
Again, this is one of Jon Watts’ gifts for this Spider-Man film and specifically in the MCU. He is able to create a corner of this universe that does have a light, poppy and fun sense at the surface but when you peel underneath there are darker feelings and histories. It really was the perfect sensibility for this trilogy. I will miss him if he truly does not return for future Spider-Man films but I really feel like this new “More Fun Stuff Version” was a fitting send-off.
No Scoops Club 