Spider-Man: Homecoming is the newest iteration of your friendly, masked, teenage, neighborhood superhero, Spider-Man. In this version, Queens, New York resident Peter Parker is an ordinary high school student, with brains, and a huge crush on Liz Allen. He lives with his Aunt May after his uncle is killed, and gets bitten by a spider, giving him heightened senses, strength, and web-slinging abilities.
We don’t start this film with a spider bite, and we don’t see the impact his uncle’s death has on his character, but what we see is an ordinary boy coming fresh off an extraordinary trip(Captain America: Civil War), trying to juggle his daily life and his newfound superhero status. While some liked that they didn’t do the typical spider bite(I have had this debate with several people in my circle of film critics), I for one, would’ve loved to see a flashback of sorts(45 seconds or less, nothing too crazy) just briefly addressing it. At one point, a key figure close to Peter asks for specifics and he gives him the briefest rundown in history, which for me was not enough. To be fair, this is one of very few criticisms of mine, seeing as it was overall a dynamic piece of art.
Hailing as hands down my favorite film in any Spider-Man revival thus far, Holland knocks it out of the park, striking a perfect balance between awkward, bright, and eager high schooler Peter Parker, and as newly minted, Spider-Man, still figuring out superhero-dom. For me, Peter Parker has always had the smarts of Tony Stark with the heart and do right conscious of Steve Rogers, and I think Tom Holland captures this blend brilliantly. He and this version in particular are why most of us relate so effortlessly to this masked crusader. He has normal problems, not just the weight of the world; he struggles with what is right and heroism in day-to-day life, all while trying to figure out the complexities of high school and figuring who he is and the type of person he wants to be.
overall good movie to watch