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?
Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, young Peter Parker (Tom Holland) returns home to live with his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei).
Under the watchful eye of mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), 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 (Michael Keaton) emerges to threaten everything that he holds dear.
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.
Summary
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.
