Spiderman: Homecoming Review - Surprisingly Original For a Second Reboot

The issue with re-watching the Tobey Maguire or Andrew Garfield Spiderman films is the underlying sadness as loved ones die and relationships fail. As Marvel showed in Civil War, Tom Holland's iteration is the fun-loving teen that the comics set him up as. Homecoming continues that portrayal with a gusto, and doesn't repeat what came before it. The school bully is now a rival academic, the love interest isn't just Mary Jane or Gwen Stacey and we aren't subjected to another Uncle Ben death. Any more and Sony is technically a serial killer.

Jon Watts channels John Hughes High School films along with high-spirited action in a story which sees Peter Parker wanting to fight proper crime and join the avengers. A montage of low-level misdemeanor-fighting set to Blitzkrieg Bop sums up the sheer fun being put on screen. Watts is now 2 for 2 on his last two feature films (disregard Clown and definitely check out Cop Car). 

Holland - as we know - is a lively, lovable hero, but an intimidating villain is needed to match him. Michael Keaton delivers exactly that as The Vulture, issuing straightforward threats and an enjoyable straightforward plan: steal the leftover material from previous Avengers films. The rest of the supporting cast are also good in their roles. Jacob Batalon. Zendaya, Donald Glover, Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau. Robert Downey Junior is used to without overshadowing Holland, but Donald Glover is completely under-utilised in a brief scene as a criminal.

Ah well. Plenty of easter eggs for fans, yet another great soundtrack and an excellent plot twist. Let's say FOUR STARS and a little bit. I'm phoning it. Don't care. Tired.