Spiderman: Homecoming – 4/5 – Movie Reviews by Ry!

Spiderman: Homecoming – 4/5 – Marvel is a juggernaut in the film industry.  Ever since the first Iron Man movie, they have provided us with an ever-growing catalog of wonderful adventures.  What has propelled them beyond is the ability to blend multiple themes, different genres and deep characterization to create stories that are more than just popcorn flicks.  With this latest installment, Marvel continues to hit its stride.  Spiderman: Homecoming is another hit that provides depth, fun and thrills within the ideas of a superhero trying to live a normal high school life.  Even with some generic and predictability, Spiderman: Homecoming is another triumph for the MCU.

Premise:  Balancing high school life while also fighting crime, Peter Parker must find a way to define what makes him great; what makes him Spiderman.

The titular character of Peter Parker/Spiderman (played by Tom Holland), is a definite stand out for this reimaging in the MCU.  His simple approach at creating a teenager with ‘superpowers’ provides something that is ironically unique for the audience.  In this role, Holland adds slickness to being an adolescent, but also compliments that with smart interactions and quick wits.  This helps provide that level of arrogance within innocence that fuels his teenage angst.  This depth provides an appeal that is grounded for a fictionalized character, one that has had varied iterations in the past.  It shows a raw perspective of how a teenager would react to having superpowers.  As for the rest of the cast, you can see the list at the film’s IMDb page.  Each of the ancillary members in the film do a swell job in adding enough quality and depth to create a vibrant world and backstory for ‘who’ Spiderman/Peter Parker is.  The common archetypes are recognizable, but the actors/actresses themselves add another level of color to the characters’ personalities.  No matter if you’re talking about Tony Stark (Mentor), Vulture (Antagonist), Liz (Love Interest) or Aunt May (Parental figure), they give great performances.  Even if in certain scenes there is a sense of predictability, it never takes away from the characterized focus of the story.

The direction in this reimaging has two things to do.  Provide a better iteration of the Spiderman character while also providing a connection to the MCU.  The director does a great job at both without compromising the other.  He is able to bring both ideals together by blending the ‘coming-of-age’ theme within the ‘sandbox’ of this comic book world.  By putting the focus on the characterization in this way, it allows for the main character to develop indifferent to what is expected.  We have a character (Peter Parker) that has to deal with high school drama while also coming to terms with his new found powers.  The conflict is tackled on two fronts (external and internal).  This provides dynamism that is grounded, fantastical and ever evolving.  Once the themes and characters are established in the first act, you get to see how Peter Parker and his Spiderman persona must become one.  With a mixture of comic book quips, witty dialogue and common fight/action set pieces in the second act, you get linear progression that is organic.  Each scene builds upon the other, leveling ‘everyday’ life lessons that are well known tropes for coming-of-age films.  The standard use of this could have hinder the experience, but with its element blended into the MCU lore creates something raw and truthful.  Once we get into the third act, the film takes a turn towards the traditional ‘good vs. evil’ tropes found in most comic book films.  Even with the generic element, it doesn’t wane on the enjoyment factor.  Once all the relative themes and characters lead to that epiphany/motivational scene, it creates a thrilling ride towards the climax.  At the climax, it is a mixture of overused CGI with over-the-top action.  It ends with poignancy that blends all the themes into something that amazing.  Finding a ‘new person’ through that coming of age theme, it provides a conclusion that is befitting for this stand-alone story while continuing to build the MCU.

The visuals are a great mixture of imagination and ‘down-the-earth’ aesthetics.  From the neighborhoods of Brooklyn to the creation of Spiderman and Vulture, you feel a relative sensation between both opposing details.  What this does is add realism to the fictional aspects, creating a fluidity between normal human interactions to grander action set pieces.  Even if things ‘might’ seem at odds, everything is put together very well.  The score is standard when it comes to comic book films.  From the epic resounding instrumental to the obvious popular tracks, it provides enough flavor to create something generally appealing.

Spiderman: Homecoming is a mixture of fun thrills with the aspect of the common coming-of-age tale.  With the blending of genres, it creates an experience that is a welcomed reintroduction to the titular character.  If you’re a fan of Marvel, comic book films or like a fun time at the theaters, this is one for you.  It is worth the full price of admission, Marvel has hit jackpot once again.

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