Spider-Man: Homecoming

Spider-Man: Homecoming

Released: July 2017

Starring: Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Robert Downey Jnr, Marisa Tomei 

Director: Jon Watts

Sony have finally started to allow Marvel to use Spiderman. Now, with the world at his super sticky fingertips, will we be treated to seeing our favourite neighbourhood superhero in a properly good solo film?
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Straight up, Spiderman is pretty much the best comic book character there is. Well, he’s my third favourite Mavel character at least (behind Gambit and Deadpool [third is still good, it’s a podium place after all [even if it is just shameful bronze]]. But let’s be honest, even the most generous of us will have to concede that we haven’t had a decent Spiderman film in more than a decade and that there still hasn’t been an iteration of him that has interpreted both Peter Parker and Spiderman correctly. But you know what, that’s all changed now.

Spider-Man: Homecoming feels different to any of the five (yes, five) outings that we’ve seen before and is unique among the origin films. It feels fresh and full of energy, with infectious charm and joy being stoked by our star, Tom Holland. This is the first time the mantle has been passed to an actor this young, which some could say is risky, but frankly, it’s a masterstroke. Whereas Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield were in their late 20’s wen they pulled on the red and blue spandex, Holland is still only 21. There’s less of a need to fast-track Peter through life to those growing crows feet  and greying hair believable and instead we can enjoy the notion that he is really just a 15 year old boy.

But, despite being physically younger, Homecoming’s Spiderman isn’t as green as those seen previously. He’s already gone toe to toe with Captain America and spent a good bit of time helping out on the streets of New York. Marvel has used his previous public appearances to their advantage, clearing space that you would expect in a more traditional origin film. Gone are any awkward in school scenes where Peter shows off his new skills [you know, with a lunch tray or a basketball]. Gone are the training montages and skateboards. Gone is Uncle Ben, with just a fleeting reference left of him [he isn't conspicuous by his absence though, Marisa Tomei’s Aunt May provides the perfect familial role model for Peter]. And gone are any spiders or spider bites. It was only five years ago that we saw this all happen in The Amazing Spiderman (2012), so why redo it all again now? With all these frivolous extras cut everything feels different not. Not bad different, but different.

Everything about it feels different now because, well everything behind the cameras has changed. No longer are Sony trying to desperately force more of their mediocre versions of Spiderman down our throats. Instead, we can now enjoy him at home, interacting with our favourite other Marvel superheroes and villains. Let’s face it, Marvel has something of a dearth of decent villains; creating entertaining solo films with a carrousel of bad-guys is tricky. What they do have is an abundance of great heroes and watching them interact and join forces is where they are Vikings. Living in the same universe as most of these characters, Spidey can now have these wonderful interactions too (which will be great). No longer will people have to ask, “Wouldn’t this be better suited to Spiderman than The Hulk?” and “Why wasn’t Spiderman helping The Avengers in New York?”

Perhaps the first question is subjective but we certainly have an answer to the second one; he wasn’t helping because he busy being seven, sans his superpowers. Because, you see, Homecoming opens directly after Avengers Assemble (2012) with Adrian Toomes (Keaton) heading a New York salvage crew, cleaning up after the destruction caused by Loki an co. Some of that time that Marvel saved on building up Spiderman’s backstory is used to great effect here, providing a relatable motive for our antagonist, making an oft ridiculous villain, much more believable. We are then fast forwarded eight years to Peter’s view on the events of Civil War (2016), before he is unceremoniously left by Tony Stark to carry on his life as before [it upsets me more than words can tell (at least family-friendly ones) that this eight year time difference is in place, when it’s only four really; would an eleven-year-old Peter really be up and fighting crime any more than a seven-year old-one?].

Time inconsistencies aside though, Spider-Man: Homecoming has got everything right. Tom Holland is absolutely the mathlete of Peter Parker, and the wise-cracking Spiderman, no longer do we have to compromise. And behind both of these confident “comfort zone” personas (at least as comfortable as you can be in head to toe spandex) there is an awkward and eager teenager, trying to find his feet. Peter might be able to chase down criminals, but he has no idea how to talk to girls. Spiderman might know how to catch thieves, but he doesn’t know what to do with them after, let alone how to look cool when he’s at it. Homecoming is as much a coming of age film as it is a superhero one, with our flawed protagonist growing as both a teenager and a superhero.

The film has stayed close to its comic book roots (which is always crucial), with small touches like the inclusion of The Shocker and Donald Glover’s brilliant cameo (his interrogation scene in particular) harking to a wider world than the one on screen [in case you were wondering, his character is the uncle to an alternate Spiderman]. It has also drawn from the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Tony Stark (Downey Jr) playing the key role of Peter’s mentor/father figure and (in case you didn’t know) providing him with his spidey-suit, packed full of goodies. But Stark is used sparingly, so he doesn’t cast a red and gold shadow over the film. In fact, he really only pops up to give Peter advice or to help him clean up a mess he’s made. Because while he might mean well, Spiderman isn’t perfect. He is charming and engaging, but he has much to learn and his ideology is his Achilles heel. Which is where Stark really comes into his own; he’s been there and done that before and can help to shape Spiderman into the leading light that the MCU might be crying out for post Infinity War.

But Stark’s greatest involvement in Homecoming is providing the spidey-suit itself, with its own version of his Jarvis; Karen (named by Peter). She provides a fantastic ethereal character, helping to guide Spiderman and providing an excellent alternative to the oft used “spidey-sense”. Peter’s conversations with her, and his inability to quickly get to grips with his suit provide some great comic moments, including Karen’s propensity for murder [what maniac puts an instant kill function on a fifteen-year-old’s clothes?!] and Starkesque quips will live long in my memory.

Spider-Man: Homecoming is comfortably my favourite Spiderman film since Tobey Maguire’s second outing and may perhaps even top my list [let’s just wait for the recency effect to abate]. It is quirky and fun, and does everything that you could possibly want it to, and does it all well. Like its protagonist, it is charming and endearing, but like its protagonist it also has its flaws, with the “name drop” moment feeling somewhat unnecessary and lacking in execution. But if it were over polished, I feel it may lose a little something on aggregate and actually, like the most lovely of faces, its flaws are what makes it beautiful. I could happily watch Homcoming over and over, and I honestly can’t wait to see what the MCU has in store for our friendly neighbourhood superhero next (until the contracted number of films is up and Sony potentially ruin him with their grubby mitts).
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🌟🌟🌟🌟 4 Stars

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I loved

I have been desperate for a representation that has delivered one of my favourite all time characters properly. His animated versions have always been exquisite, so to finally see him recreated so perfectly in flesh and blood has scratched an itch.

Pet Peeve

The jump of eight years at the head of the film feels a bit clunky, like an arbitrary number of years was selected and they just rolled with it.

The aforementioned name drop promises a great deal for the future, but the timing and execution are off. If it were a gymnast, it would have fallen off the pommel horse.

There might be two post credit scenes, but you really don’t need to stay until the ever-lengthening list of names is over before you leave; the second one is pretty much not worth watching [although it’s really worth convincing other people to watch it when you know what’s coming, that is worth it!]

If you want to see what I thought of Spider-Man: Homecoming before I watched it, you can read my Trailer Trash preview here.