Homecoming was always an apt title for the new Spider-Man film.
After a successful return in 2012, then a web undone in 2014, Marvel and Sony came together to see what they could do with ol’ Web-head.
With a distribution deal struck, and Marvel taking creative control of one of their most valuable characters, the wall-crawler swung back onto the scene in Captain America: Civil War.
Heralded as the coming of the new wunderkind, will the ‘Benjamin Button’-ing of Spider-Man prove a success?
Or is it a tangled mess?
It’s about time Spider-Man found himself a little bit more grounded.
With 5 films under his belt, he’s popped the web cartridges of old to replace them with a new spin on your friendly, neighborhood Spider-Man.
While many commented on the exclusion of Spidey’s character defining statement
“With great power comes great responsibility”
from Civil War, it finds itself told in a way that makes it synonymous with the character himself.
Much like the character’s de-aging (ed. Or as fans see it, a return to his true origin), the hero’s journey is almost told in reverse-like fashion.
The lack of exuberance normally shown by the Marvel films takes Holland’s Spider-Man back to his roots. He’s not some hero with grand plans and actions. He’s a boy with grand thoughts and dreams.
He doesn’t so much as jump from building-to-building, but kind of assumes he can while tripping over himself.
It’s this subtlety that drives Peter toward a destiny we know is much bigger than what he sees in front of him.
The tiny discoveries he makes, learning the ropes (ed. or webs) of what makes him a hero are both thrilling and hilarious.
The trade-off between huge set-pieces for the smaller things sees classic questions answered like “What happens when there’s no buildings?”, “Does Spidey need a car?”, “Does he eat?”, and the best one “What happens to his backpack?”.
And it’s this along with his student-life that builds up the foundation for a hero who will embody the classic Spidey-mantra.
A boy who can’t change the life he has versus the hero that can change the lives he saves.
Surrounded by a wonderful supporting cast, it’s greatest member is Keaton’s ‘Vulture’.
With motivations a little closer to home than most, and a nature that is very much “evil”, the Vulture has to be one of the best villains Marvel has produced in a while.
Intentionally grey (with tinges of green), Spidey is sure to have a rogues gallery befitting of his legacy soon.
And with so much going right, it looks like our Marvel neighborhoods just a got a bit more friendlier.
A Spider-Man who's willing to throw himself off a building while anxious about it, along with cautionary action that finds Spidey using his trademark humour to deal with it; Spider-Man Homecoming tries to ground the wall crawler who quickly learns how to soar.
