Spider-Man: Homecoming
While this isn’t the typical Spider-Man story we’re used to, Spider-Man Homecoming is a thoroughly refreshing addition into the catalogue of ever expanding Spidey movies. Many of the more recent films in the MCU feel like they have a director behind them, carefully bringing to life their vision, infusing the films with signature styles and uniquely creative storytelling. However I’d never considered Jon Watts to be amongst these directors, until rewatching this and Far From Home back to back.
Watts manages to capture the essence of a John Hughes teen comedy while perfectly intercutting a great superhero story at the same time. This is the first Spider-Man film that actually feels like it takes place in a real school, the characters don’t feel like over exaggerating caricatures but real lived in people. This isn’t just apparent in the main cast but all the small characters and the extras in the background too, making little comments and feeling like real people, it just makes the world feel real and lived in.
The main cast of characters are really the stars though. Tom Holland’s Peter Parker and Spider-Man are PERFECT. He mixes the awkwardness of Tobey’s Peter with the cool charm of Andrew’s to great effect, resulting in a Peter who feels like a real nerdy kid. The best thing about Peter in this film is that when he’s with Ned, they’re cool cause they think they’re cool just like normal nerds. Within their bubble building a Lego Death Star is really cool but it’s only when you view them outside their bubble, like through Flash, that they become the uncool kids.
Peter and Ned’s relationship is one of the best duos in the MCU. They have this effortless back-and-forth with each other that is so enjoyable to watch, they just feel like really good friends. Ned himself as a character is just endlessly likeable, Jacob Batalon does such a great job at making Ned as inviting as possible and his curious out and wonder about his friend’s superpowers is infectious. It’s also so smart how they use MJ in this film, having her be there but not be focused on really sells the arc of her and Peter’s romance.
Let’s talk about one of the best aspects of the film though: Michael Keaton. The MCU has had a long history with poor villains who’re undeveloped, under-utilised and generic, however The Vulture is anything but these things. The film opens with Adrian Toomes and immediately grounds the film and his character as being one who the audience can sympathise with. His motives, which are expertly told to Peter later in the film, aren’t simply destroy the world, he desires to take power away from the wealthy and give power back to the little man, of which he views Peter as being. Much like the other top-tier villains in the MCU the thing that makes The Vulture great, is that you can see exactly where he’s coming from, his reasonings are not convoluted they make sense, he just perhaps goes about this in the wrong way.
The twist that happens in the film might also be one of the best Spider-Man moments put to screen. The slow build of tension from the front door of Liz’s house all the way to the school is incredible. And Holland and Keaton’s performances are just magnificent in this moment. The panic in Peter’s eyes and face as he doesn’t know how to handle this revelation and the rising suspicion in Toomes as he figures out what’s going as the lights turn green is cinematic perfection.
The main criticism that this film garners is that it’s too intrinsically tied to Tony Stark and doesn’t feel like a Spider-Man film. However this isn’t one I totally agree with. For one, in the context of where the MCU is and the five previous movies that preceded this in quick succession, it doesn’t make sense to make this the classic Spider-Man story we know. Moreover, this film benefits from not being constrained to tell that story that has been told so many times and can explore telling a new Spider-Man story in the amazing world building of the MCU.
It’s also thematically ingenious, as it’s really a journey of Peter learning what Spider-Man means to him, without the tech and the input of Tony Stark. But the irony is that the main theme of the film is the thing that annoys people the most about the film. Tony’s appearance is necessary in the film due to how this Spider-Man was introduced in the MCU but this film allows Peter to decide what he wants Spider-Man to mean to him. Peter’s decision to leave behind the heroic life of being an Avenger and opting to live a normal high school life where he is a “friendly neighbourhood” Spider-Man is a subtle but strong indication of the mark Adrian left on him, that he feels a responsibility to look out for the little guy cause no one else will.
This is just all round a fantastic film. Comparatively with the previous ones, this one is far more subtle with it’s themes and focused on telling a good story with relatable characters that feel like they exist in the real world. It has some of the best comedy in the MCU, alongside some of the most creative action. Making Spider-Man face open areas and heights was such a smart decision, as it put him in a place where he doesn’t have the upper hand. It’s so good at blending all these genres and elements together that it makes for one of the most enjoyable entries in the MCU