In the lead-up to Avengers: Infinity War (in cinemas 25 April), Liam Maguren re-watches Spider-Man: Homecoming.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe had a massive building to climb with their Spider-Man – the second reboot of the character in a decade. Sony squeezed as much webbing as they could out of the Toby Maguire and Andrew Garfield iterations and Uncle Ben’s been shot as many times as Bruce Wayne’s parents.
How do you make one of the biggest – and overexposed – superheroes in cinematic history feel fresh again? You treat him like he ain’t shit. And it worked brilliantly in Homecoming.
Ripping that vital page out of the Ant-Man playbook, Homecoming scales the superhero stakes down to the size of a friendly neighbourhood. It’s another welcome break from international conflict (Civil War), galactic catastrophe (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2), and magical battles that could have torn the very fabric of reality (Doctor Strange).
It also breaks conventions from the other Spider-Man flicks before it. For one, the high schoolers in this film aren’t 30-year-olds. For two, the film doesn’t focus on larger-than-life dramatics. Hell, the film’s called Homecoming. There’s no blunter indicator as to where this story’s priorities lie.
It allowed the MCU to explore a genre it hadn’t covered yet: coming-of-age. While it is in part about Peter coming into the role of a hero, it’s first and foremost about him becoming an adult. In this sense – and in all Spidey senses – Tom Holland is bloody flawless.
He gives off the perfect amounts of smarts, naivety, courage, vulnerability, humour, and humility. These are all compelling film traits for a student balancing high school classes with high school crushes as well as a kid balancing schooling with superheroing.
The MCU’s Peter Parker is YOU as an insecure teenager with helpful and cool powers trying to be helpful and cool. Unfortunately, this Peter lives in a world with plenty of heroes already in the limelight. Trying to stick out in that crowd is like trying to become a YouTube celebrity or, more appropriately, like a child trying to sit at the adult’s table.
Despite his gumby inexperience and adolescent ignorance, he tries. That’s what makes us love – and fear for – Tom Holland’s Peter Parker when he puts himself in harm’s way.
As bloody irresponsible as it was recruiting a child on the battlefield, Tony Stark does step up to take responsibility of Parker as a superhero-in-the-making, expanding on his shit-dad-figure role from Iron Man 3. It’s a satisfying addition to Stark’s own growth as well, making him a great aid to a film that goes beyond giving the Spider-Man brand an MCU tramp stamp.
Homecoming also presented one of the MCU’S greatest villains in Adrian “Vulture” Toomes. We may have giggled at the Birdman jokes, but Michael Keaton did not mess around. He’s intimidating and commanding, but also relatable and human – a blue-collar fellow who’s sick of rich people’s shit (see: Tony Stark). He also holds high respect for Peter, which adds a thick layer of complexity to his character.
Vulture’s effectiveness highlights something that rings true throughout the MCU films. If the hero doesn’t have a memorable moment with the villain outside of combat, they typically aren’t a memorable villain. The insanely tense scene in the car, where Toomes slowly figures out Peter’s alternate identity, is the best moment in the film. Tellingly, Vulture is one of the best MCU villains.
It’s a pity the action scenes don’t stick out, though. Super shaky, overly CG-ed, and often set in the dark of night, this isn’t the best showcase of Spidey’s web-slingery. If there’s a highlight, it’s probably the Washington Monument rescue, but even that sits a notch below his moment in Civil War.
However, it’s easily forgiven when everything else in Homecoming is so on-point, right down to the ending where Peter maturely turns down Tony Stark’s offer of superhero glamour. Nevertheless, he fumbles into his own Iron Man ending reveal by accident when Aunt May walks in on him in his Spider-Man costume.
Peter has grown, but he’s still a dumbass teenager.
