'Spider-Man: Homecoming' Movie Review

Hello, fellow moviegoers!
   Spider-Man: Homecoming is directed by Jon Watts, and it stars Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Robert Downey Jr, and Marisa Tomei. Following the events of Captain America: Civil War, Peter Parker is still trying to prove himself and his abilities to Tony Stark, who has become a sort-of father figure in his life. When his first big enemy, The Vulture, shows up, Spider-Man must balance fighting the bad guys and avoiding bad grades. 

   When this summer began, I started preparing myself for a decent-to-mediocre summer as far as film quality goes. Save for perhaps Alien: Covenant, there weren't any films in May that I found really enjoyable in the theater, Thankfully, that all has changed very quickly. Films like Wonder Woman, It Comes at Night, Baby Driver, and now Spider-Man: Homecoming have made this summer a truly fantastic one for movies. 
   I wasn't sure what to expect from Spider-Man: Homecoming. Spider-Man has been a hit-and-miss character with his films in the past, and this film was a co-production between Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios, so I didn't know how exactly that would turn out. Thankfully, they gave us another truly great Spider-Man film, one that I believe many will consider to be the best one to date. Spider-Man: Homecoming was such a fun and entertaining experience at the theater, and I can't wait to see it again. 
   Tom Holland as Spider-Man was one of the highlights of Captain America: Civil War, but in this film, he really proves why he was cast as Spider-Man. He perfectly embodies the type of Peter Parker they're going for in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He's not overly awkward and nerdy like the Tobey Maguire version of the character, but he's also not the borderline cool kid that we got with Andrew Garfield. Holland's Peter Parker in this film is just a socially awkward kid that isn't sure how to really handle a lot of things, and keeping his Spider-Man secret definitely doesn't help. Peter Parker in this film legitimately feels like somebody you'd find walking the halls of a high school today. Holland's performance in this film was nothing short of outstanding. He really sells us all on that character, and we believe that he's just a kid trying to do the right thing. Holland's comedic timing was perfect, and it felt really natural. To put it simply, Tom Holland completely embodies who Peter Parker is in this film. 
   Tom Holland isn't the only one who was a great casting choice in this film though. Michael Keaton as The Vulture was so much better than I was expecting, and I'm a huge Michael Keaton fan. I was excited when they cast him as the villain in this film, however, we all know that Marvel has a bit of a villain problem. Most of the villains in Marvel films are just two-dimensional characters that don't really serve any purpose except being the bad guy who punches stuff. Michael Keaton as the Vulture was one of the best parts of this film. Not only did Keaton really have fun with this role, but he really gave his all for it. The Vulture wasn't just some guy flying around in a bird suit. He had his own character motivations, and at times, he really caused some internal conflict within Spider-Man. He was doing what he believed he had to do to protect his family, and that made him a very interesting character. In addition to that, his actual suit was very intimidating. It looked alright in the trailers, but in the actual film, that suit can legitimately be scary at times. 
   What really makes this film fantastic is the tone. Spider-Man: Homecoming knows what it wants to be, and it sticks with that through the whole film. At times, this film felt like something that would be directed by Jon Hughes. It really captured a sense relatability that is infrequent in many big budget films these days. Spider-Man: Homecoming is, without a doubt, the funniest movie I've seen this summer. What really makes that work though is how natural the humor felt. Not once in this film did I find myself thinking "that joke felt forced". This film had a really great sense of humor, but it never compromised the actual story being told. 
   The only real flaw I can find in this film is that it had some pacing issues towards the middle. In the second act of this movie, everything seems to slow down a little bit. It never comes to a halt though. The film is still very enjoyable in that part, but it wasn't quite on the same level as the rest of the movie was. That's really my only gripe with this film. From start to finish, Spider-Man: Homecoming is well written, well acted, well directed, and most of all, well worth your time.
   I absolutely loved Spider-Man: Homecoming. It's probably the best summer movie that we've gotten so far this year. That doesn't mean it's the best film of the summer (though it's definitely in the conversation too), but it does mean that the film is a ton of fun at the theater, and anybody can watch this film and have a blast with it. It feels like a much smaller and more personal film than many of the other films in its genre. Tom Holland shines as Peter Parker, and he really reminds us why Spider-Man is so great. Michael Keaton as The Vulture made for one of the best villains in the Marvel Cinematic Universe so far. I would highly recommend Spider-Man: Homecoming, even if you're not a huge fan of the character. It's an extremely entertaining film, and I can't wait to see what Sony and Marvel do with this character moving forward.
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9/10

​   So what did you think of Spider-Man: Homecoming? What's your favorite film of the summer so far? Let me know by commenting on this post! Also, if you enjoyed this review, share it on Facebook and Twitter. It really helps! Don't forget, I post every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, so check back then for more movie reviews and other miscellaneous movie thoughts!

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