Writer: Jonathan Goldstein
Director: Jon Watts
Cast: Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Gwyneth Paltrow, Zendaya, and Bokeem Woodbine
Peter Parker is a smart kid with an amazing secret, he is the infamous Spider-man. After a life altering battle with the Avengers, Peter returns to his humble home in Queens as a changed young man. Unfortunately for Peter, Queens isn’t the big battleground he’s hoping for. Being a teenager pales in comparison to the excitement of the superhero life and Parker soon ventures out looking for trouble. He doesn’t have to look far, his snooping soon leads him down a path that could easily gain him the notoriety he desires, or a one-way ticket back to obscurity.
Tom Holland is the third actor to portray the web-slinging hero and he is also the youngest. At just 21 years old, fresh faced Holland is playing a 15- year old Peter Parker. He is also the first not to have to endure the heartbreaking death of Uncle Ben or the spider biting origin scene. Thankfully he’s already Spider-man when the movie starts. His story begins after his first big battle assisting the Avengers. Fans of the Marvel franchise will recall this Spidey’s debut in 2014’s “Captain America: Civil War”. This film begins immediately following that event. In fact, the very first scenes are Peter filming his experiences, heading into battle followed by the ride back to Queens with Tony Stark. Holland excels as Spidey, he’s quick-witted, occasionally goofy and always entertaining. His baby face reminds us that he really is just a kid.
Great lengths went into keeping this Spidey more realistic and modern than his predecessors. Along with a younger Spidey, we also get a more interesting set of supporting characters. His aunt isn’t a sad little old lady, she’s a vibrant happy woman who is constantly being hit on. His best friend, turned sidekick, is a kindred spirit who is just as unpopular as Peter. Even the villain is far more realistic. “Vulture” is played by Batman himself, Michael Keaton. This criminal is just an ordinary man fighting to keep his family fed. He’s an independent contractor of sorts, who makes a living cleaning up the scraps from epic alien battles. When his city contract is revoked his livelihood is at risk and he resorts to illegal means. This villain is shrewd and aggressive but not quite as scary as “The Green Goblin” or as cartoonish as the “Lizard”. He is a more plausible result of the collateral damage caused by superhuman street fights.
A more realistic plot and characters have not diminished the action or special effects. Expect to see Spidey clinging to walls and slinging around the city. In one scene our hero even scales the Washington monument. In another, he tries to keep a ferry from splitting in half with his webs and abnormal strength. This adaptation takes Spider-man to new heights and refreshes the franchise with a more dynamic universe where aliens exist, superheroes are a fact and high school still kind of sucks.
Spider-Man: Homecoming hits theaters 7/7/17!