Spider-Man Homecoming takes the famed web-slinger and drops him in a completely new environment- the marvel cinematic universe. In doing so, it offers a fresh, new look at this world from the perspective of a high school teenager- who just happens to be Spider-Man. After the events of Civil War, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) wants to be more than the friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man. So when he finds out alien technology is being pawned off on the black market, Peter chooses to ignore the advice of Happy Hogan (Jon Favereu) and his mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and track down the Vulture (Michael Keaton). Marvel rarely miss with their casting, and Holland is no exception. Tom Holland is the best actor to have portrayed the webhead. He is an instant fan favourite who plays the role with such authenticity; from the nerdy and geeky side of Peter, to the witty, millennial humour he brings to Spidey. Further standouts in the cast include the charming sidekick and ‘guy in the chair’ that is Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon); the subtle introduction of MJ (Zendaya) who will go on to become a key character; and Keaton’s spine-chillingly scary performance as the Vulture. One of my favourite moments of the film involves him, Holland and Laura Harrier’s Liz. The scene takes place in a car and involves some of the coolest and most gripping subtextual information I’ve seen in a long time. Whilst I enjoyed the low stake and grounded fight scenes, my favourite aspect of the film are the moments where it feels like an 80s teen comedy. Watts may just be the best thing since John Hughes, and the teenage drama that Peter goes through works really well alongside the superhero action that comes with it. I also love the score by Michael Giacchino- particularly the reimagined Spider-Man theme. Overall, Spider-Man: Homecoming may not be the best Spider-Man film to date, but it introduces an interesting take on the character and arguably the best actor to portray Spidey.
