Spider-Man: Homecoming - Movie Review

For the second reboot of the lead character in the last decade, Spider-Man: Homecoming has no right to be as good as it is. After the previous two films, which tried desperately to create a new universe but instead collapsed and died, Spider-Man's fate seemed to be tied to a studio that simply had no idea what to do with him. But, Sony had some sense (for once) and decided to partner with Marvel Studios to bring Spider-Man into the world of the Avengers. After a show-stealing appearance in Captain America: Civil War, this latest version of Peter Parker is now embarking on his first solo adventure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

What this film nails, and what the previous iteration of the character failed to do, was to put Peter Parker (Tom Holland) at the forefront of the story rather than his masked alter ego. Homecoming's story is rooted in Peter's character; every conflict, every twist, and every action scene is connected to Peter's choices and personality. This Peter isn't a mopey, tortured sadsack, or a cocky, arrogant douchebag. Rather, he's excited, energetic, yet still awkward and uncomfortable. Holland strikes the perfect balance, and even though we're reminded very often that Peter is now a part of a larger universe, the story is mostly contained.

This smaller-scale story allows for a much simpler atmosphere. The focus isn't on big action or effects showcases, but instead on the day-to-day elements of the story. We spend a lot of time with Peter in high school, and explore all of the different aspects of that environment. Peter faces bullies, friends, crushes, and the central conflicts of the movie come as a result of Peter trying to balance his personal life with his role as a hero. The characters around Peter compliment that struggle greatly, with Ned (Jacob Batalon) following him with wide-eyed excitement, Liz (Laura Harrier) being let down by him again and again, and Michelle (Zendaya) always in the background. It's a shame that Aunt May (Maris Tomei) doesn't get more screentime with her nephew, since the two share solid chemistry and are a lot of fun together.

The best relationships in the film are the ones that exist in opposition to Peter. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) exists as a very distant mentor, who doesn't seem to care about Peter except for tracking his movements. There's a constant tension between him and Peter, with Tony not quite knowing what to do with him, and Peter always trying to prove himself. But the film's greatest achievement is with the villain, Adrian Toomes (Michael Keaton), aka The Vulture. Vulture is probably the best Marvel villain, simply because his plan is so basic and low-level. He has no desire to take over the world or destroy the protagonist; he's just trying to make a living and provide for his family. Keaton brings the appropriate amount of menace inside and outside of his suit, but the sympathy that he brings to the character is what really sells it.

The whole film is more grounded than I expected, and places the focus squarely on the more human aspects of the story. When the action does kick in, it's fast and fluid, with constant moments of creativity and humour mixed in. The big, climactic action scene is actually the least interesting sequence in the whole film, mainly because it feels so overblown. It's much more interesting to watch Spider-Man patrol around the streets of New York, or see Peter interact with people in his neighbourhood. I can't say that the high school/teen drama aspects of the story overtake the feeling of the superhero genre, but they definitely add a refreshing backdrop. Director Jon Watts borrows quite a few stylistic flourishes from 80s comedies, which gives the film a very light, bouncy feel.

Interestingly, this is the adaptation of Spider-Man that changes the most from the comics, but those changes help it stand out as a new interpretation. New York is appropriately diverse, with several well-known characters from the comics appearing in very different forms. The most notable change is with Peter's bully Flash Thompson (Tony Revolori), who's no longer an enormous, blonde jock, but now a rich, privileged little Indian kid who's just constantly picking on Peter. While changes like these may upset comic book purists, it helps to modernise Spider-Man's world, and doesn't the characters to any extremes. They feel like real people.

Honestly, I'm just shocked that a Spider-Man movie is this good. The emotional and comedic moments hit equally as hard, the action is fun, and the story is engaging, with plenty of surprises and fun little references for comic fans. The film hits all of the beats you expect a superhero movie to hit, but there's some inexplicable satisfaction that comes with it. Maybe it's the fact that we now have such a wonderfully perfect portrayal of both Peter Parker and Spider-Man on the big screen, especially in comparison to the last iteration. But Homecoming excels in its own right, and it's definitely my favourite Spider-Man film out there. I can't wait to see where this version of the character goes.