It takes about three minutes into Spider-Man: Far From Homefor someone to make a Phase 4 joke.

To note the character and context would be a very mild spoiler, but suffice it to say that the people in the Marvel Cinematic Universe are just as concerned with what’s going to happen next as the audience who watches them.

Spider-Man: Far From Homeis packed with references that speak to that which came before as well as the uncertainty that lies beyond Peter Parker’s newest adventure, which makes the fact that the movie also serves as a delightful, self-contained chapter in the book of Marvel even more impressive.

The events of Avengers: Endgameraised a lot of questions regarding what the world would look like in the aftermath of Tony Stark’s victory over Thanos, and thankfully, Spider-Man: Far From Home makes quick work of doling out their answers. Once the obvious is addressed, however, the story belongs entirely to Peter Parker in all of his adorable earnestness.

Tom Holland instantly proved to be the perfect Spider-Man way back in Captain America: Civil War, but his performance now solidifies him as the new and improved heart of the MCU. Holland is so magnetic in Far From Homethat even when Peter makes stupid choices (and hoo boy, he really craps the bed a few times), he is granted instant forgiveness.

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Peter is 16 years old in this movie, and much is made of the tension between him shouldering the burden of heroism while still being an actual child in a post–Iron Man world. Watching Peter experience grief, stress, and guilt over his role in this new reality is pretty difficult stuff, but in Holland’s hands the emotional journey Peter takes feels natural and relatable.

Also, as a side note, the dude gives good cry. He cried in Spider-Man Homecomingand he cries in Far From Home, and hell if the sight of Peter Parker’s tears doesn’t make anyone with a soul want to jump through the screen and give him a hug. Protect him, for god's sake. He’s just a boy.

Far From Home doesn’t waste an iota of the good will Marvel has earned in its previous offerings.

Of course, Holland isn’t alone in driving Peter’s story — he’s excellently paired with Jake Gyllenhaal as Quentin Beck/Mysterio, who makes flying around with a fishbowl on his head a captivating addition to the MCU’s repertoire of superpowers. Gyllenhaal Gyllenhaals all over Far From Home, adding a potentially illegal amount of charm to every single line reading and gesture. He’s so conspicuously charismatic that every character who encounters him appears to have a moment where they come to the realization that Mysterio could beat them with a pillowcase full of bricks and they’d say thank you. And that’show you cast a comic book movie.

Spider-Man: Far From Homealso benefits from MCU history by expertly wielding the hard-won proficiency that comes with making 22 films in 11 years. The film's three-act structure is tighter than Thor’s grip on Stormbreaker and its jokes are paced better than Captain America’s lap time around the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The emotional highs are earned and the lows are heavy with implications that stretch back to 2008’s Iron Man.

Many have criticized Marvel films for nearly always ending in a smashy CGI-laden fight between the hero and villain, but this smashy, CGI-laden villain fight is one of the absolute best ever produced in the series. Far From Homedoesn’t waste an iota of the good will Marvel has earned in its previous offerings — every cheeky nod towards Peter’s future in the MCU feels genuine.

SEE ALSO:Samuel L. Jackson goes off after spotting mistake in 'Spider-Man: Far From Home' poster

Spider-Man: Far From Homeis about a kid with great power who is struggling with the whole great responsibility thing, so it serves as a satisfying second chapter in Peter Parker’s march towards adulthood and heroism. As the last movie in Phase 3 of the MCU, it works hard towards tying up the loose threads of the previous 21 films while looking optimistically forward to the twists to come. To that end, its mid and post credits scenes are some of the most gratifying since The Avengers.

Even though the next phase is still shrouded in mystery, Spider-Man: Far From Homedoes a fantastic job of latching the door that Endgame closed, while opening a whole new universe of possibilities for Marvel.

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