Spider-Man: Homecoming Movie Review

15 years after Spider-Man's big screen debut, we get the sixth installment of the titular Marvel character, and I'm so glad it worked. Finally, nine years after the Marvel Cinematic Universe began with Iron Man, we get to see a Spider-Man film within the continuity of this world. For those who may be confused about who this particular Spider-Man is, he's played by Tom Holland, who debuted in last summer's Captain America: Civil War. Not Tobey Maguire or Andrew Garfield. Sony and Marvel Studios struck a deal a few years back allowing the web-slinger to finally join the ranks of the Avengers and it has been a dream come true for countless fans to see something like Spidey stealing Cap’s shield. His appearance in Civil War was fantastic, but it was hard to definitively say if Holland was the best Spider-Man to date or not. The fact that this was even in question is saying a lot of Hollands 12 minutes of screen-time, compared to multiple movies from Maguire and Garfield. At this point in time, after seeing Spider-Man: Homecoming, it is no longer difficult for me to make this decision. Tom Holland is indeed the Peter Parker AND Spider-Man that we've been waiting for a decade and a half.

           Before jumping into the positives of the film, I'd like to mention one thing that struck me as strange as the movie started. After the opening scenes that were very clearly taking place immediately after the Battle of New York from the first Avengers film which took place in 2012, we get a time lapse of what they say to be 8 years. 8 years would put us at 2020, and not 2016, as the film picks up during the events of Civil War. I have no way of explaining this discrepancy and I'm hoping the people at Marvel do so sometime in the near future. This continuity error doesn't make or break this film in anyway, it just bothers the nerd part of me that doesn't understand how they could let that slip through the cracks. With so many films out already in this universe and so many more to come very soon, I understand that the timeline cannot be perfect and that may be too much to ask, but this seems like such a simple and avoidable goof.

           So, should you go see Spider-Man: Homecoming? The answer is unwaveringly yes. Without a doubt. I truly loved it from start to finish. Director Jon Watts and Tom Holland really brought us an incredibly fun movie. Not only is it a good super hero movie, but it’s a good movie, period. Light-hearted, yet the consequences felt real. Peter Parker is a high school student, and high school is something most of us go through or will go through. They beautifully capture that high school feel, unlike many other movies or television shows that force you to do double takes on the students themselves and the events that transpire. Not to mention that I felt Peter’s struggles while watching him struggle with choices. Should he go to the party and talk to the girl he’s crushing on or should he go and stop crime around the city? Should he miss his Spanish quiz or attempt to stop illegal arms trading? Not quite the decisions I had to make in high school, but nonetheless an enormous burden on a 15-year-old kid who wants to be cool in high school but also impress a billionaire, to stop criminals armed with alien technology, all the while keeping up the persona of an ordinary student. It’s what people have loved about him, reading his comics for decades and it was depicted perfectly on the big screen for all of us to soak in.

           From the marketing, we’ve seen that Marvel’s golden boy Robert Downey Jr. has a part in this film. Heading into the theater, the fear was that his oversized personality would steal the spotlight from Spidey. Thankfully, that doesn’t happen, and it proves that they can add other Marvel characters into solo outings without feeling forced. I didn’t go to see Iron Man, I went to go see Spider-Man and that is very much what I got. Tony and Happy Hogan, Tony’s long-time employee and friend, never feel out of place and serve as good plot devices to move Peter’s arc along. Tony serves as Peter father’s figure, which is doubly satisfying for the audience because we know from past films that Tony has had some serious issues with his father growing up. Since Tony doesn’t have kids and Peter doesn’t have a father figure, it serves the story and the characters.

           The humor was fantastically executed and Holland is extremely charismatic. Seeing that kid on screen is a joy and he brings so much to Parker and Spider-Man. I really think they struck gold with this casting, as they have with Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and the rest. I didn’t ever feel the humor to be forced as it was in some scenes of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2, which I also really did like.

           Marvel for all its strengths, is often known for lacking in the villain department. Either the villain is not memorable or is killed off, or both. Spider-Man: Homecoming’s villain comes in the form of Vulture played by Michael Keaton. I was glad to see that they weren’t using a repeat villain from any of the last 5 Spider-Man films, but I was also skeptical of the use of Vulture. Michael Keaton is one of the best working actors today, so that gave me more hope going in, and he also did not disappoint. His motivations were clear and rational. There was no confusion as to why he was doing what he was doing and his character did incite empathy at times. He was mostly cool and collected but also had a very convincing and subtle rancor to him. I think he served as Peter’s first true test on his path to becoming the veteran Spider-Man and it was not a throwaway performance from Keaton.

           The supporting characters were also great, including Aunt May and Peter’s friends and classmates. They all felt very organic in their relationships and personalities and I felt like I really understood their connections to Peter. I also appreciate the fact that the writers and director didn’t eat away at screen time by harping on Uncle Ben or on how Peter became Spider-Man. I would have appreciated a mention of Uncle Ben instead of an insulation, as he is very crucial to Peter’s story, but I wasn’t torn up about it. We’ve seen his origin twice in the last 15 years, no need to rehash it a third time; We get it. I will say, I do hope they dig deeper into Peter and May’s relationship in the future installments.

           All in all, the film was paced well, had great action and great character development, was full of easter eggs and MCU connections, and felt like what I’d always imagined Spider-Man to be like in the movies. Great cast, hilarious and well-executed humor, and despite one or two looming continuity errors, a very fun and cohesive story. Spider-Man: Homecoming is a great time at the movies and a marvelous installment to the MCU. I give Spider-Man: Homecoming a 9 out of 10! Don’t forget to stay for the two after credit scenes! Next up on the road to Infinity War: Thor Ragnarok!