One of the scene-stealers in Captain America: Civil War, I was happy to see Spider-Man back on the big screen alongside the rest of the Avengers even if it was a rocky reception. With a clever title that’s both literal and metaphorical, director Jon Watts (Cop Car) has our friendly neighbor in his first solo adventure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe back in his lovely abode of New York, and just in time for the dance in Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Two months after the events of Civil War, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) dreams to be an Avenger and impress his mentor Tony Stark a.k.a. Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) as he attempts to balance his superhero life as Spider-Man and survive high school. His classmates consist of his best friend Ned (a hilarious Jacob Batalon), his crush Liz Allen (Laura Harrier), rich kid snob Flash Thompson (Tony Revolori) and the moody Michelle (Zendaya). Things turn for the worst when a frustrated ex-salvage team led by Adrian Toomes (Michael Keaton), come into possession with some alien tech from the first Avengers movie. Donning the persona of the Vulture, Toomes begins a black market spree with stealing more fancy machinery. Seeing an opportunity to shine, Spider-Man attempts to take down the Vulture only to discover that he has a lot to learn.
Is Spider-Man: Homecoming the best Spider-Man movie? No. That honor still belongs to the Sam Raimi Trilogy but it definitely surpasses both Amazing Spider-Man movies by Marc Webb.
Maybe it’s because I’m starting to get superhero fatigue or that I that was expecting too much but Homecoming proved to be bit underwhelming. Irritating details that I’m seeing in this year’s summer blockbusters are the villains. So much is built on them from the trailers and when they appear onscreen but not delivering in the third act. When Electro and the Lizard from the Amazing Spider-Man make a bigger impression, that’s not good sign. This is something both the Raimi and Webb films got right and that Marvel is lacking in its villain department (exceptions include Loki and Ultron but it’s very few). Who are these characters, what leads them toward a dark path, and even feeling sorry for them at times. Origin, motivation, meeting the hero, studying the hero,and the final confrontation; Homecoming gets everything except for that last part.
That’s not to say that Keaton as the Vulture was terrible, on the contrary he is a step in the right direction from the roster of Marvel’s other baddies as his motives bear some similarity to the likes of Walter White; an individual who would do anything to provide for his family, making him an interesting and complex villain. If I can add any positive points, the final outcome feels right in tone that I would see in a Spider-Man story.While on the subject of villains wasn’t the biggest complaint of Spider-Man 3 and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is that they crammed in one to many characters? It’s not that over-crowded but it does linger on a hinge. Yes, it is cool for the fans (myself, included) but make it relevant to the story and not just fanboy service.
The last issue is the same I have with the MCU movies that befalls Homecoming in it feels incomplete and structured like a cartoon episode. I know there’s more yet to follow but give it a proper resolution. What I really respect of the Raimi films is that while yes there are some new conflicts arising as the story wraps up, the main conflict has reached its conclusion. Now that the superhero genre is an enormous franchise they just have sequel bait every single movie, it’s cool at first but not so much after awhile. At least in cartoons we get to see the next episode a week later not two and a half years. I get it that it’s not an easy task to wrap everything around a two hour mark from character development, and story but if Doctor Strange and Guardians of the Galaxy can do it, then so can the rest.
Still, the spirit of what makes Spider-Man one of the best superheroes is well executed on the silver screen. Thanks to Tom Holland’s performance (even if he cane be a bit chatty) who captures Spidey’s persona like Tobey Maguire did when he donned the mask in 2002 from the mannerisms, choices, mistakes and sense of responsibility. The origin story isn’t repeated thankfully as most of the audience is familiar enough with it already and major credit to the ensemble of actors and actresses who did a spectacular job especially the high school cast. While Marisa Tomei as Aunt May’s continues to puzzle me, it never ruined the movie and the inside jokes on her casting that were made in Civil War continue to be funny here as well.
The eighties soundtrack and high school setting certainly captures the feeling of a John Hughes story with a few nods to his work in certain scenes.
With a sequel in the works set after Infinity War, I’m hoping for it not to commit the same sins of the previous Spider-Man sequel; deliver a great villain, more time with the supporting cast (not omitting them), and some mention of Uncle Ben who isn’t even mentioned in this movie, wouldn’t hurt.
Spiderman: Homecoming may have gotten a bit tangled in its own web but the web-head himself, is alright.
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