MOVIE REVIEW: SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING

Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, young Peter Parker (Tom Holland) returns home to live with his Aunt May. Under the watchful eye of mentor Tony Stark, Parker starts to embrace his newfound identity as Spider-Man. He also tries to return to his normal daily routine -- distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just a friendly neighborhood superhero. Peter must soon put his powers to the test when the evil Vulture emerges to threaten everything that he holds dear.

Director: Jon Watts 

Cast: Tom Holland, Marisa Tomei, Michael Keaton, Robert Downey, Jr., Donald Glover

Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, some language and brief suggestive comments

Release Date: Jul 07, 2017

Genres: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Review:

Spider-Man: Homecoming was going to have an uphill battle being the  3^rd iteration of the character in so many years.  Thankfully Tom Holland is a great fit for the role, really taking the character back into the high school world in earnest.  Holland has a great gee whiz charisma that fits the film and this take on the character.  The story itself is a solid coming of age tale that feels familiar without becoming burdensome.  It’s a fun story which makes good use of Robert Downey Jr. in the mentor role which seems like a logical fit being Marvel’s first hero.  Michael Keaton makes for a solid villain, a rarity in the Marvel movies, with his motivations making more sense than your usual bad guy.  Keaton uses his low key intensity to great effect here even though the film could have used some focus in terms of conflict.  At times it almost feels like Keaton’s villain is secondary to other plot lines in the film.  It’s a shame because it’s a decent character that could have made a larger impact if the film had allowed him to.  A few quibbles aside, Spider-Man: Homecoming is a fun film that avoids the entire “origins” trope by basically sidestepping it entirely and doing it’s own thing.

B