Spider-Man: Homecoming is so enjoyable and good-hearted that it’s easy to focus on the positives. After making an appearance in Civil War, Spider-Man gets his MCU solo debut here, and they waste no time getting to the good stuff: Homecoming is blessedly free of origin story tedium. Peter Parker makes an offhand reference to getting bit by a spider, but he’s already got a (very amateur) version of his suit he wears while fighting crime in a friendly, neighborhood sort of way. Homecoming hits the ground running.
Baby-faced Tom Holland is terrific as Parker, making him hilariously weird and goofy and smart without turning him into a complete dork. Essentially, we believe that this Parker could take down a criminal mastermind, go on a date with the most beautiful girl in school, and still embarrass himself on a regular basis. Peter’s high school travails are a significant part of the film (and, honestly, they’re perhaps the most effective part). Additionally, his relationship with Tony Stark – a complicated father/son situation in which Stark strives to be the dad he himself never had – is touching and sweet without feeling forced or overplayed.
Director Jon Watts mirrors Holland’s effervescent charm in the movie’s tone: this is the most kid-friendly and light-hearted of all the MCU movies. It’s all very funny and self-effacing and cute. And while, it’s hard to keep the smile off your face, it’s also Homecoming’s biggest flaw, in the sense that the film is disarmingly low-stakes. Michael Keaton, playing in his usual half-comic/half-unsettling Jack Nicholson range, tries to make Vulture work, but Homecoming isn’t invested in building him up as a significant threat. In general, the proceedings almost feel like more like a three episode TV show arc than a full-fledged film.
But, it’s a great three episodes! This is the most NYC of all the MCU movies (quite a few of which have involved the city) and Homecoming makes the most of Peter Parker’s Queens residence. The borough – and its plucky, ethnically diverse population – are an essential element to the film. The same spirit is captured in a toe-tapping soundtrack featuring The Ramones and Spoon. And the action, lively and garish, is fun and exciting without falling into a CGI black hole (a tricky proposition considering Spider-Man’s powers can’t really be captured without heavy digital assistance).
arthousegrindhouse.wordpress.com 