A while back, I wrote a piece addressing my thoughts on Spider-Man
joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A few months later, when Captain America: Civil War came out, I
wrote a review with my updated
thoughts on Tom Holland’s web slinger.
Now, after his first solo outing, I am truly convinced: Tom
Holland is Peter Parker.
As I’ve said before, the choice to make this incarnation of
the character so distinctly innocent, so obviously a kid, serves to give him a
degree of relatability that previous incarnations have lacked.
This Peter
Parker, true to the comics, is a fifteen year old social outcast who’s stumbled
into a world that’s bigger than he is. And, unlike the Greek Gods and billionaire
playboys of this universe, Peter has to deal with the very real struggles of teenaged
angst, high school, and dating.
Spider-Man’s ability to navigate the fantasy of superpowers as
well as the monotony of daily life is the true strength of his character. This
is why he holds such a special place in my heart, as I know he holds a special
place in so many others.
With Spider-Man:
Homecoming, I am happy to see that the role has been placed in good hands. The
tone of the movie is light, paying homage to the world he came from with
references to The Avengers and Civil War, with Tony Stark playing a
main role. This crossover allows for a certain passing of the franchise torch,
and shows a degree of forethought on the part of the writers. With the
knowledge that Robert Downey Jr and Chris Evans can’t anchor the franchise
forever, Spider-Man: Homecoming marks
what I expect to see in the post Infinity
War era MCU, with a new generation of superheroes coming to the forefront.
A lot of thought seems to have been put into how Holland’s
Parker learns to use his powers. The villain he faces in Homecoming, the Vulture, is arguably relatively weak on the scale
of MCU villain hood. The film’s dialogue notes that Vulture would be finished
if Iron Man or the Avengers were to notice him. In fighting the Vulture, we see
an immature, eager, and clumsy Spider-Man learning his limits and learning to
use his powers wisely. This dynamic between Parker and the movie’s villains
makes for some entertaining scenes, including one hilarious interrogation scene.
On a technical level, this learning curve also allows for a certain break in the
monotony of super-hero action scenes. Rather than yet another film where Iron
Man fights an army of robots, we have a refreshing mixing and matching of
super-powers.
Spider-Man: Homecoming
is one of the best films to have been released in Marvel’s shared universe,
possibly the best behind only Civil War.
More down to earth and relatable than many of its counterparts, Homecoming is a perfect Spider-Man film,
staying true to the character and the tone of the world. Unlike many character
introductions, this film dispenses with the well-trodden origin story, instead
infusing backstory references to the dialogue.
Ultimately, Spider-Man:
Homecoming is well worth the time and money to see in theatres, a truly
loyal and heartfelt portrayal of my favourite superhero.
9/10
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