Spider-Man: Homecoming
Spider-Man: Homecoming takes the flair of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and distills it down to the neighbourhood level, which works fantastically.
Rather than fighting a grand world threatening monster Spider-Man is tasked with being a regular 15 year old, but one who also happens to have superpowers which he is still coming to grips with. This is a coming of age teen flick which often has Peter making agonising decisions concerning school, social life and his aspirations to become an Avenger.
Throughout the film Spider-Man is tasked with combatting petty criminals, who he deals with in playful cheeky fashion reminiscent of 2016’s Deadpool. That is until a larger more homicidal threat in the Vulture intrudes on the suburbs. Against this more deliberate and vicious threat Spider-Man’s youthfulness really shows as he displays a greater vulnerability and struggles to use the limited abilities he has mastered early in his superhero life.
Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man is great and is perfectly balanced out by his counterpoint Michael Keaton as Vulture. Both of these characters struggle with their relationship to Tony Stark and desire to do the best for their families, ultimately taking two juxtaposing paths.
Ultimately this is a fun superhero flick which serves as a nerdy celebration of the classic Spider-Man character whilst also refreshing it.
★★★1/2