‘SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING’
PG-13 2:13 ★★ ★ ½
Peter Parker (Tom Holland) sits on a rooftop. He’s half dressed as Spider-Man and contemplating how to enter a nearby house party hosted by his crush.
This feels straight out of an ‘80s movie, one of the many nods “Spider-Man Homecoming” gives to the decade.
Holland’s Parker is no Ferris Bueller, but he’s the most effectively angsty and naturally funny actor to don the Spidey suit. Parker’s facing the most John Hughes-inspired situation ever: Does he be himself and march back into the party or does he visit in costume and impress the crowd? That’s a funny moment, one that reminded me of the levity delivered by the first “Guardians of the Galaxy.”
Not every Marvel Cinematic Universe moment has to hinge on the fate of humanity. High school can be just as dramatic.
After several entries with a lot of hit-or-miss moments, “Spider-Man: Homecoming” finally strikes a balance between a young Parker (played by an actor who actually resembles a high schooler) and his heroic alter ego. That might seem like a small thing, but it’s the little moments that make this big-budget affair worthwhile. We know CGI can make Spider-Man look amazing while swinging through New York City, but that’s not nearly as interesting as Spidey sharing directions with a lost woman or snacking on a churro as a reward.
Instead of montaging through early follies, Spider-Man spends much of “Homecoming” figuring out how to use his super suit and surviving school. With great power comes great responsibility ... and a heavy learning curve. He’s not a terrible hero. Rather, he’s just terrible at being one. Adolescence is just as big of a villain as Michael Keaton’s nasty turn as the Vulture, a move that feels oddly premeditated by his role in 2014’s “Birdman.” The Vulture’s been mining alien technology that was abandoned in NYC after the first “Avengers” flick, and he’s building high tech weapons to sell under the radar while Parker’s skipping detention.
I learned all this pretty quick because there’s very little Spider-Man origin story in “Homecoming.” The movie picks up where “Captain America: Civil War” left off. Parker’s putting in just enough effort at school so he can get saved by the bell and test the super suit Tony Stark gifted him. He’s ready to graduate and get into the real world even though he’s still prone to play with Legos.
Speaking of “Iron Man,” that’s the closest cinematic cousin to “Homecoming.” The heroes share a similar sense of humor. “Homecoming” also borrows a lot of the attitude from”Deadpool” and delivers a character that’s full of mistakes. However, he doesn’t brood about his faults like a Batman or a Superman.
Rather, he’s genuinely psyched to be a potential Avenger and jumps into situations that, as Tony Stark puts it, are below his pay grade. Parker is flying by the seat of his Underoos and gets wide-eyed about his newly acquired gadgetry like someone who’d walked into an Apple Store for the first time.
“Homecoming” benefits from a lot of the set-up from prior Marvel entries and gives the character time to be himself instead of speeding along to the next plot point. I was relieved the movie didn’t waste time rehashing the familiar Uncle Ben origin story.
The supporting cast is great, and director Jon Watts’ (“Cop Car”) vision seems inspired by his first superhero outing.
I wasn’t looking forward to another swing with Spidey, but now I’m ready for a return trip. “Homecoming” is easily the the most fun comic book movie in years.
Starring: Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Robert Downey Jr. and Marisa Tomei. (Sci-fi action violence, some language and brief suggestive comments)