Spider-Man: Far From Home: The MCU’s Underrated Rom-Com

Since its inception in 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has grown into one of the biggest movie franchises in history. While superheroes are at the forefront of every film they’ve released, their projects have managed to span several genres, from sci-fi to action to heist flick and more.

Comedy is also a big part of what the MCU does, yet they haven’t fully dipped into the realm of a romantic comedy, at least not on the surface. One movie in the MCU is quietly a rom-com and a very good one at that, almost harkening back to the days of John Hughes’ work.

It might not be the focal point of the film, but Spider-Man: Far From Home is actually a great romantic comedy. It actually takes a while before Mysterio shows up and we get into the action of the movie. During that time, we’re treated to a fun teen rom-com that feels like it was pulled out of that subgenre’s heyday.

Peter Parker is trying to have a normal teen existence without worrying about being a superhero. On his class trip to Europe, Peter’s goal is to officially ask out the girl he likes, MJ. Watching his attempts to get alone time with her brings the comedy, while their banter is classic rom-com stuff.

It helps that Peter and MJ are played by Tom Holland and Zendaya, who bring their real life chemistry to the big screen. It almost doesn’t matter what they’re talking about because the two are so endearing in every scene together. By the time the action comes, you realize you hadn’t missed it.

The MCU Should Branch Out And Try A Full On Rom-Com

As noted, the MCU has dipped its toes into genres outside of action. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is their first horror film, Ant-Man is something of a heist movie, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is certainly a martial arts project.

While Spider-Man: Far From Home has its romantic comedy elements, it moves away from that as the action kicks in. It would be cool for the MCU to do an actual romantic comedy from start to finish. They’d have to include action and superhero antics, but the rom-com could still be where it’s rooted.

It’s unclear which characters would be at the forefront of something relatively lighthearted, yet the MCU has so many characters, and so many more they could debut, that it’s worth a try. The MCU is also at a place where it should try outside the box thinking like making a romantic comedy.

If the MCU ever does decide to a full romantic comedy, it can at least look to Spider-Man: Far From Home for inspiration because that film gets it right.