Spider-Man Homecoming Review

Greetings Ladies and Gents! It is I The Shaman of Animation back once again with a new movie review! I know that with Far From Home (which I have seen) out in theaters now, there's no real point in doing this, but after rewatching this film in preparation and with the MCU'S take on Spider-Man being something of a huge talking point amongst fans of the webhead, I figured it best to get how I feel about this film & this version of the character out there in the ether now so people know how I feel. Also, it's been 4 months since I last posted on this blog so...

Without further ado, here's my review of Spider-Man Homecoming. 

After his first taste of Big-Time superhero action in Captain America Civil War, Peter Parker is back home in Queens and trying to prove to Tony Stark that he is more than ready to be an Avenger and go on constant world saving missions. In his pursuit for Greatness he crosses paths with Adrian Tombs A.K.A The Vulture, a man using technology left over from the Chitauri invasion from the first Avengers Film to create and sell weapons.

One of my small gripes in regards to the film is the score from Michael Giacchino. His score definitely isn't bad, but when compared to Danny Elfman's score from the old Raimi films, Into the Spiderverse's killer soundtrack, and even Han Zimmer's score in TASM 2 (Which to this very day, I will go to bat for, including Dubstep Itsy Bitsy Spider), it's kind of lacking. Again minor nitpick, especially in a film as good as this one.

One of the best things about Homecoming is the fact that it is a smaller scale story. There's no giant space army or a doomsday device that shoots a giant blue sky beam. It's just a crook and his crew trying to steal stuff and Spidey has to stop him, and I appreciate it for that.

Because there aren't large stakes in the film, Homecoming relies more on its characters and story to keep things engaging and it very much succeeds in doing so. Of course the leading man Tom Holland, who stole the show in Civil War, continues to shine as the Webhead, delivering the bumbling teen awkwardness we want from Peter and quipping aplenty as Spider-Man. But what really helps flesh this version of the character out is the small details and those small throwaway lines. The line that he's never been on a plane shows that he doesn't come from a place of wealth, or the scene where he's having to leave a pool party to stop bad guys shows his sense of responsibility.

There's also Peter's supporting cast: Ned Leeds is a great comedic best friend for Peter to bounce off of and giving him a confidant his age for all his Spider-Man business. And while I'll always 60's jock Flash Thompson, Tony Revolori's take on the character is fantastic and more in line with what a bully in the 2010s would be and he's still every bit the jerk to Peter that we all know and love. Zendaya's cynical nature, while not being a huge standout for me, does provide a good counter to Peter and Ned when they're all interacting together onscreen.

But the real MVP of the film goes to none other than Michael Keaton who's interpretation of Adrain Toomes serves as one of the more three dimensional villains in the MCU. The MCU's reimagining of the Vulture as this blue collar man who has his job taken from him by Tony Stark really gives you more of an understanding and the inclusion of his family definitely add more layers to him as a character. It also helps that Keaton simply crushes it with all the material given to him, being able to play the lovable husband and dad and also being absolutely terrifying when the film calls for it.

And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the inclusion of Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark into the film. He's not in the film very much, but the scenes he is in are very effective ones as they help to carry Peter's arc forward as the film goes along.

And speaking of said arc, while the MCU has always been marketed as a family friendly series of films, Homecoming itself feels as though its aiming specifically for a younger, high school age audience and through Peter's arc it gives them the message to not be in a rush to grow up. Enjoy your youth and your experiences in that time, because it's time you'll never get back.

On the topic of what the MCU's marketed as, while it's the only successful shared film universe in this modern age of film making, at times it does struggle with world building. That was until this movie came out. Peter's small world gives us as the audience perhaps the best glimpse of this universe of superheroes through the eyes of normal people; and we get to see things that would later on be featured in the MCU, such as the new facility in Infinity War. On top of that, the way this film introduces multiple Spidey villains into one movie is done in such an organic manner, it baffles your mind on how Marvel Studios got it right in one shot while Sony screwed this exact thing up twice.

A few years ago, when the Sony-Marvel deal to share Spider-Man was made, I wrote a post on how the MCU could breathe new life into the Web Slinger's movie brand and as I look at it I'm surprised with how much of what I personally wanted out of an MCU Spidey movie I got. It's a film that brings more focus to Peter's life in high school, one that gives him a great supporting cast and a villain that he can connect with. It lays down a spectacular foundation for future sequels to capitalize on.To put it frankly: It's a good movie AND a good Spider-Man movie.

But that's all from me folks, tune in later today as my Spider-Man Far From Home review will be posted. Til then, I'm The Shaman of Animation.

Take Care...