Movie review: Spiderman: Homecoming

Spiderman: Homecoming

Since this movie has been out quite a while, I won't worry much about revealing plot details, so ...

*Spoiler Warning*

Okay, so let me begin by saying I loved this movie. It's fun, it maintained my attention, and especially it captured the joy of being a youthful, naïve, and starry-eyed superhero. Also, the villain truly challenged and threatened the hero. It worked well as a self-contained comedic story.

This Spiderman is really trying to do right, to make his way in the world, and is desperate to prove himself. He helps old ladies with directions, stops a bike robbery, and leaves goofy notes (something I did when I was a kid too). He is a 15 year old super-powered boy, and acts like it. However, he is also wanting to be a part of the Avengers, so he pushes too hard and that gets him into trouble--and easily provides the conflicts for the story.

Regarding the villain, The Vulture, he is easily my favorite villain in the new Marvel movies. This is a regular guy, with a flying winged suit. And, yet, he is easily capable of destroying Spiderman whenever he wants, and he makes it very clear he has absolutely no issue with doing so. Also, the villain has his own peculiar moral code, which prevents him from releasing his knowledge of who Spiderman actually is. Because of all this, the Vulture is terrifying and real. When the big reveal of Spiderman's love interest actually being the daughter of the Vulture happens, the air is rife with tension and we understand exactly why Peter Parker is forced to break so many of his promises. Then, when the Vulture directly threatens Peter, we are horrified and truly worried for him and anyone he cares about.

The biggest point I'd like to make is how Peter Parker is walking the same path seen in Iron Man 3 (a very under-rated movie), where Tony Stark learned he is still a superhero even without his fancy armor. Now, Spiderman has never relied on fancy gadgets--until Tony built a spiffy suit for him--and then it's taken from him. He is forced to grow and mature, to use his natural abilities, and not rely on toys. Because of this, Spiderman has a clear personal arc, and ends the movie miles beyond where he started. He is a full superhero at the finish, without question in his own mind or anyone else's. That's fantastic! Incidentally, Marvel has since done the exact same thing with Thor in Thor: Ragnarok.

Yes, Spiderman makes plenty of mistakes in his journey, but he ends up making the right choices. We are witness to his maturing, his defeats, and his victory. That's a great story.

I highly recommend Spiderman: Homecoming. Get it and enjoy it!

- M