★★★★☆
AFTER a memorable appearance in last summer’s fantastic Captain America: Civil War, everyone’s favourite blue and red-suited, web-slinging young hero gets properly welcomed into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with this enjoyably, playful and energetic adventure.
The second reboot of the character’s on-screen story – following a trilogy of Tobey Maguire and a further two movies with Andrew Garfield in the role – finds Peter Parker (Tom Holland) in his high school years mere months after being bitten by that pesky radioactive spider. Thankfully this opts out of telling that been-there-done-that origin story.
He’s as you would think any teenage boy with superpowers would be: excited, overzealous and generally bursting to try out his powers whenever he gets the chance.
With the help of his heroic but constantly busy mentor Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr) who handily provides him with a high-tech version of the Spidey suit, he tries his best to handle his day-to-day life living with his aunt May (Marisa Tomei) with his new-found great responsibility.
Breaking the pattern of helping little old ladies in the street, in swoops a new and formidable threat in Adrian Toomes (Michael Keaton) who has taken leftover alien technology from the battle depicted in the first Avengers film to help him become the Vulture. He’s fundamentally an-over-the-top villain but made strangely believable and threatening here, largely thanks to Keaton’s scenery-chewing performance.
Homecoming functions well as many things. Firstly it’s an effective reintroduction to the character with a new actor playing him; intensely likeable and charmingly awkward, Holland fits the role of nervous teen and wisecracking hero perfectly.
Then there’s how it snugly fits the character in the overarching MCU without it ever feeling like he’s being forced in there for the sake of it.
Perhaps most importantly, it works well as a colourful and joyous single adventure all of its own, pleasingly tightening the focus from the world-ending threats that have dominated a large swathe of the MCU’s sensibilities thus far to something more intimate and personal. The age-old theme of what it means to be a hero is satisfyingly explored. “I’m nothing without that suit,” proclaims Peter, to which Tony retorts: “If you’re nothing without the suit then you shouldn’t have it.”
That’s not to say the film doesn’t have a sense of scale or visual bravura – far from it. There are several action sequences – from a Spidey crawl up the side of the Washington Monument to literally holding together the Staten Island Ferry – that are up there with the best the MCU has to offer. Jon Watts (Cop Car) directs things with impressive exuberance while always making sure there’s a sense of grounded personality. Some of the film’s biggest joys are in Peter’s non-web-slinging moments, contending with the awkward high school years, geeking out with his best friend Ned (a hilarious Jacob Batalon) about his potential status as an official member of The Avengers, and behaving awkwardly around his crush Michelle (Zendaya). With all the bombast we’ve seen from these series of films, it’s weirdly refreshing to see our hero get worked up about something like getting ready for a prom.
On the sheer fun scale, this Spidey adventure is top notch, full of quippy and knowing humour, creative set-pieces and a well-needed devotion to the idea of this character learning to become Peter Parker as much as becoming Spider-Man. Just make sure you stay until the very end of the credits – sometimes patience really is rewarding.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here