Spider-Man: Homecoming
- Jul 12, 2017
- 3 min read
In the leadup to each recent Marvel superhero movie the echo-chamber begins to hum with the question of, “do we really need another superhero movie?” We have seen three dedicated movies for both Captain America and Iron Man and just this year we were given the sequel to the first Guardians of the Galaxy. This is the third incarnation of Spider-Man on the big screen. My expectations for the results of the third attempt were lowered knowing that Sony still has input in the Spider-Man universe, but heightened by the cameo given to the web-head in Captain America: Civil War. Much to my delight, the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man shines in all of the ways that his name suggests.
This year we have been blessed with great superhero movies that prove there is not only still space for more superheros but also that their movies may be some of the best action movies this year. Homecoming takes note of the biggest concern raised by the superhero movies of last year. That being, can we just enjoy a movie where the fate of the universe doesn’t rest on the triumph of the hero. Michael Keaton’s performance balances his troubled motives with Tom Holland’s high school challenges to great success. Spider-Man is not fighting to save the world from impending doom, he’s just here to save his friends.
One of the other most consistent problems with superhero movies is how uninspired most villains are. Particularly in Marvel movies it is almost guaranteed that the villain will be more of a placeholder than a fully thought out character. Even great actors such a Guy Pearce in Iron Man 3 failed to bring anything memorable to the role. Michael Keaton as Vulture has a surprisingly clear amount of motivation and his character acts with consistent decisions based on that motivation. There is also a great plot twist regarding his identity which makes his motives just that much more interesting. This also makes the final fight of the movie almost as heartfelt as the fight between Iron Man and Captain America in Civil War.
The entirety of Homecoming is down to earth and enjoyable to watch even if you haven’t seen all of the other Marvel movies. There are many tie-ins to previous and future movies but they are minor. Seeing a young Peter Parker dealing with the struggles of high school and being a superhero is enjoyable and what made the original Spider-Man comics so memorable. While many other superheros are adults who are forced to deal with serious moral questions that hold them back from happiness in their life, Spider-Man shows how young people might respond to these situations. Peter Parker’s youth means that he is still very optimistic about the future. Other characters fight over international law and Peter fights because he loves his friends. This zeal for saving others is presented in a way that both shows how childish it can be and how much it can improve the life of older generations.
Spider-Man Homecoming does not rewrite what it means to be a superhero movie or introduce us to anything that will change the way we see the world. It does however remind the audience of some of the joys of youth. This makes Homecoming stand out among the vast catalogue of other superhero movies and is why it is so easy to recommend.
8.8/10
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