Spider-Man: Homecoming - Review
Director: Jon Watts
Cast: Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Zendaya, Laura Harrier, Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau, Robert Downey. Jr
Within the relatively short period of seventeen years, audiences have been given three different iterations of the web-slinging Spider-Man. Raimi's early 2000s trilogy revolutionised the superhero genre. Marc Webb's efforts perhaps set the cause back a few steps. Jon Watts, director of Cop Car (2015) and now Spider-Man: Homecoming hopes to strike the former achievement. With the long-awaited collaboration between Disney Marvel and Sony finally upon us and age-appropriate casting of the titular character, the revival of the Spidey franchise has been imbued with a sensibility that's entirely unique and refreshing.
After his thrilling experience with the Avengers, the teenage Peter Parker (Tom Holland) continues to live his quiet life but begins to embrace his identity as Spider-Man under the watchful eye of Tony Stark (Robert Downey. Jr). Determined to prove his worth and skill, Peter takes it upon himself to thwart the plans of the dangerous Vulture (Michael Keaton) who threatens to wreak havoc on everything Peter holds dear.
The film quickly recaps the events that led to the inclusion of Spider-Man in the Civil War brawl through the energised and wonderstruck eyes of Peter Parker. Video recording his journey from recruitment, the presentation of his high-tech suit to eventual battle, it provides the audience with compressed context whilst also setting the tone for the flick. Humour has always been an integral part of Spider-Man/Peter Parker but the spry perspective keeps us engaged in a world and character that we're cinematically well-versed in.
With two equally revered and beloved depictions of the character (courtesy of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield) preceding him, Tom Holland faced a mountain of expectations and inevitable comparisons. His fleeting appearance in Captain America: Civil War delighted fans and critics but it's Holland's performance here in Spider-Man: Homecoming that establishes the actor as perhaps the quintessential Peter Parker. His portrayal is complemented by an impressive supporting cast, most notably Zendaya as the whip-smart loner Michelle. Although her dialogue is minimal, she delivers every line with wit and deadpan facial expression. The diversity amongst the cast, especially within the high-school setting, is truly reflective of society and the youthful, buoyant attitude they engender is a delight to watch. Combining the vibe of John Hughes pictures and the superhero landscape is a winning amalgamation - students playing 'F***, Marry, Kill' with the Avengers roster is a small but entertaining inclusion and a handful of Captain America PSAs are hilariously droll.
Perhaps not the flashiest or most dynamic antagonist the MCU has produced, Adrian Toomes aka the Vulture (Michael Keaton) is certainly one of the most grounded and sympathetic. Toomes is a salvage company worker who has adapted to the world in which alien technology debris litters the streets of New York and utilises such material to his financial benefit by developing weapons to be sold to morally questionable civilians. His booming, underground business does not have grand motivations to rule the world and Toomes is not driven by greed - everything he does is to protect and support his family.
Although not an entirely necessary entry in the thriving and continually evolving MCU, considering it doesn't further the narrative leading towards Avengers: Infinity War, this shift in focus allows a big expansion within a small environment. His brief dalliance with the Avengers over, Peter returns to Queens and somnambulantly settles back into the routine of his humble beginnings. He sits in chemistry class, attends academic decathlon meetings and arranges to construct a Lego Death Star with his best friend, all the while knowing that bigger things await him outside of the school walls. To appease his burgeoning desires, Peter resorts to patrolling the streets and foiling acts of small-scale crime. However, it's not the high-flying life he envisions and scuppering bicycle robberies and giving directions isn't enough to satisfy his superhero urges. It's the way we'd all feel if we had immense powers at our fingertips but no fulfilling way to exorcise them.
Fun, feel-good and fantastically crafted for contemporary audiences, Spider-Man: Homecoming takes the web-shooter back to basics and proves that this Spider still has legs.
EB
Cast: Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Zendaya, Laura Harrier, Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau, Robert Downey. Jr
Within the relatively short period of seventeen years, audiences have been given three different iterations of the web-slinging Spider-Man. Raimi's early 2000s trilogy revolutionised the superhero genre. Marc Webb's efforts perhaps set the cause back a few steps. Jon Watts, director of Cop Car (2015) and now Spider-Man: Homecoming hopes to strike the former achievement. With the long-awaited collaboration between Disney Marvel and Sony finally upon us and age-appropriate casting of the titular character, the revival of the Spidey franchise has been imbued with a sensibility that's entirely unique and refreshing.After his thrilling experience with the Avengers, the teenage Peter Parker (Tom Holland) continues to live his quiet life but begins to embrace his identity as Spider-Man under the watchful eye of Tony Stark (Robert Downey. Jr). Determined to prove his worth and skill, Peter takes it upon himself to thwart the plans of the dangerous Vulture (Michael Keaton) who threatens to wreak havoc on everything Peter holds dear.
The film quickly recaps the events that led to the inclusion of Spider-Man in the Civil War brawl through the energised and wonderstruck eyes of Peter Parker. Video recording his journey from recruitment, the presentation of his high-tech suit to eventual battle, it provides the audience with compressed context whilst also setting the tone for the flick. Humour has always been an integral part of Spider-Man/Peter Parker but the spry perspective keeps us engaged in a world and character that we're cinematically well-versed in.
With two equally revered and beloved depictions of the character (courtesy of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield) preceding him, Tom Holland faced a mountain of expectations and inevitable comparisons. His fleeting appearance in Captain America: Civil War delighted fans and critics but it's Holland's performance here in Spider-Man: Homecoming that establishes the actor as perhaps the quintessential Peter Parker. His portrayal is complemented by an impressive supporting cast, most notably Zendaya as the whip-smart loner Michelle. Although her dialogue is minimal, she delivers every line with wit and deadpan facial expression. The diversity amongst the cast, especially within the high-school setting, is truly reflective of society and the youthful, buoyant attitude they engender is a delight to watch. Combining the vibe of John Hughes pictures and the superhero landscape is a winning amalgamation - students playing 'F***, Marry, Kill' with the Avengers roster is a small but entertaining inclusion and a handful of Captain America PSAs are hilariously droll.
Perhaps not the flashiest or most dynamic antagonist the MCU has produced, Adrian Toomes aka the Vulture (Michael Keaton) is certainly one of the most grounded and sympathetic. Toomes is a salvage company worker who has adapted to the world in which alien technology debris litters the streets of New York and utilises such material to his financial benefit by developing weapons to be sold to morally questionable civilians. His booming, underground business does not have grand motivations to rule the world and Toomes is not driven by greed - everything he does is to protect and support his family.
Although not an entirely necessary entry in the thriving and continually evolving MCU, considering it doesn't further the narrative leading towards Avengers: Infinity War, this shift in focus allows a big expansion within a small environment. His brief dalliance with the Avengers over, Peter returns to Queens and somnambulantly settles back into the routine of his humble beginnings. He sits in chemistry class, attends academic decathlon meetings and arranges to construct a Lego Death Star with his best friend, all the while knowing that bigger things await him outside of the school walls. To appease his burgeoning desires, Peter resorts to patrolling the streets and foiling acts of small-scale crime. However, it's not the high-flying life he envisions and scuppering bicycle robberies and giving directions isn't enough to satisfy his superhero urges. It's the way we'd all feel if we had immense powers at our fingertips but no fulfilling way to exorcise them.
Fun, feel-good and fantastically crafted for contemporary audiences, Spider-Man: Homecoming takes the web-shooter back to basics and proves that this Spider still has legs.
EB
Comments
Post a Comment