Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) Review

 

Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

Following the events of Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man: Homecoming follows Peter Parker, who is learning to embrace his role as the friendly, neighborhood Spider-Man, though he must put his new powers to the test against the Vulture, who threatens all he holds dear. 

Skipping over the origin story (and another tearjerking death of Uncle Ben) and jumping right into his life as a budding hero, Homecoming is all about Peter trying to balance his Avengers level expectations of being a hero with the stress and drama of being a high school student. It’s a cool concept, one we’ve seen played out a couple times but this time with a twist, in the form of an Iron Man sized role model. Now, while the whole high school experience is as quirky and relatable as it should be, there’s an overwhelming sense that Tony Stark overshadows so much of this film (which is purposeful and meant to inspire a liberating feeling come the third act) but it sadly leaves Spider-Man feeling like Iron Man Jr. for most of the movie, in Washington DC no less. 

The movie really finds its footing though when it separates itself from Tony Stark/Iron Man and allows Peter to be his own hero, without all the fancy gadgets. Putting him back in his ratty, homemade suit and forcing him to fight his own battles, there’s something freeing about it, that is extremely raw, as we see him come to terms with who he is under the suit and what it means to have great power. Thus resulting in a final battle between him and the Vulture that feels personal for the two of them, genuinely allowing for some surreal acting out of Holland and Keaton. 

And speaking of those two, we get a hell of a cast, starring Jennifer Connelly, Jon Favreau, Tony Revolori, Zendaya, Laura Harrier, Marisa Tomei, Bokeem Woodbine, Robert Downey Jr., Jacob Batalon, Michael Keaton, and Tom Holland. I absolutely loved how dark Keaton took the Vulture in this, his threatening (and honestly relatable) performance made all the more menacing with how personal it all becomes, allowing for an excellent third act alongside Holland, who finally gets to shine a bit by then. 

Spider-Man: Homecoming, directed by Jon Watts, is an acceptable first solo outing for Marvel’s version of Spider-Man, and while it is hindered a touch by always feeling overshadowed by Tony Stark and his tech, when it breaks free, we get a relatable flick about balancing high school life and what it means to be a small time hero in a city that needs just that. 

7.6/10