So, here we go again. Another Spider-Man movie. A third version. A different actor. However, this is not like what we’ve seen before. Oh no, not even the slightest.

Spider-Man: Homecoming puts us right where we left off with Tom Holland’s Spidey – after Civil War and completely skips the spider bite story. Going back eight years, after the Avengers’ battle of New York, we start with former Batman turn Marvel villain Michael Keaton who plays Adrian Toomes, a man in charge of the reconstruction of Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr.) Avengers tower, after it was completely destroyed in the battle. Quickly, Toomes and his crew are asked to remove themselves from the project because the Department of Damage Control will be taking over. The building is full of alien type weapons and material left behind by the defeated aliens.
Eventually, we see Peter Parker for the first time in his own movie, as an excited kid who tells via video blog that he’s been working closely with Stark and the Avengers’ initiative, but verbally calls it an internship. Stark gives Parker a new Spider-Man suit and some heavy advise which, of course he goes against when he discovers a gang of bank robbers are also in possession of some high tech weapons; stuff he’s never seen before. It becomes clear to him that this is the work of Toomes and his crew, as they are also able to create Toomes a suit with the material and technology they have stolen from Stark’s tower, and called him Vulture. Left behind in the crime scene of the bank robbery, is a piece of the alien material that Parker picks up and tries to figure what it is together with his best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon). They examine it and try to find where its coming from and where more exists to keep Toomes and his men from taking more. Stark is not a fan of anything Parker is doing. He did tell him ‘don’t do anything I would’ and to just be a ‘friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man.’ Despite the request by Stark, Parker goes ahead and tries to bring down the bad guys.
Keaton is excellent, for the record. He has always been good at playing the sly and normal looking bad guy. I am a fan here.
In between all that, he’s also trying to grow some and ask his love interest, Liz (Laura Harrier) to homecoming and generally tries to impress her. Parker is also dealing with everybody not believing his involvement with the Stark internship and that he works closely with the Avengers.
We don’t need another origins story about Spider-Man. We know the story of how he became the web dispensing hero. So yes, this heavily relies on you already knowing both the story of Spider-Man and the Avengers story thus far. So, this view is written in the perspective of someone who isn’t ignorant to the adventures we have already seen. The story line flows immaculately. Even the small twist was unpredictable and that’s what makes is even better. I am so impressed. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face after.

I would go ahead and say that this is a kid’s film, despite the M rating (parental guidance will be highly recommended). But don’t be turned off by that, adults, it’s certainly for you too. Besides the subject of guns and the whole wanting to kill Spider-Man idea, its quite kid friendly which means the action, comedy and dialogue are all perfectly pieced together to never bore you, because you are constantly entertained by the next thing and the next. It’s not over complicated or too dark, either. This film is brightly coloured and lightly put together right through.
Look out for the Easter eggs, as there are plenty of preferences to the previous Spider-Men and their movies, such as the Toby Maguire Spider-Man scene where his out stretched arms and webs are bringing a train to a halt. The same slightly happens but this time, Spider-Man is trying to piece back together a ferry which is sliced right in the middle by one of Toomes alien weapons. There is even a moment where we think we might get an upside kiss again. It’s a warm and fuzzy feeling when you notice them and understand them.
I am also very glad they kept the household Spider-Man theme song and remixed it for this film. It sounds great and excites you as it enters the viewer into the film.

As for Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, so far I’ve preferred Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man, but Holland is the kid that Peter Parker has always supposed to be. He is adorably charming, a little naïve and is a little immature where he needs to be. These are all aspects of Peter Parker we longed for and hardly saw in the previous versions. It’s also fair to say that Holland’s Spider-Man is here to stay thanks to the films now intertwining with the Avengers-verse.
It’s equally important to mention the supporting acts from Batalon and singer turned actor Zendaya who plays Michelle. Ned is the ‘guy in the chair’ and its scene such as when he first discovers Parker is Spider-Man that make him a relief needed when he appears on the screen.
Zendaya’s role is small and mysterious, and seems a little unnecessary but I have a feeling she has a bigger role to play in any following Spider-Man films. One may believe she is Parker’s next love interest. Though a small role, she does make a big impact when she appears. The observant Michelle is the miserable looking girl, proudly with no friends, who has awesome one liners.
Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) has had a bit of a make over. We all know how beautiful Tomei is, so that means Aunt May is more desired for than an elderly frail woman we have witnessed before. So best to forget what you know of her, so far. They have given her some, so-called aging elements such as an outdated car, high wasted pants and big glasses, but Tomei still managers to make Aunt May sexy, instead of a wrinkled, grey haired senior citizen. She also just goes by May, which I am a little uncomfortable with. That was a change I wasn’t prepared to adjust to. She will always be Aunt May to the fans.
There isn’t any mention of Uncle Ben. May mentions something that has happened to Parker early on in the film, but we don’t get any links to indicate if that has something to do with Uncle Ben, and the fact that he is dead, and whether he is in their lives at all. There’s definitely a question mark on that one, but I have a feeling we are supposed to assume he was killed.
We know Tony Stark has a big ego, and Downey Jr. can take over a scene when he appears, but Jon Watts has perfectly inserted and ejected Stark when and where he is needed so that he doesn’t take over the entire movie. This is solely a Spider-Man movie done well and no one takes it away from him.
I had a bit of a problem with love interest, Liz. She is constantly held up and let down by Parker. He leaves her party unexpectedly and ditches her at homecoming, yet she still has eyes for him. It didn’t seem like a genuine union so it is a bit of a throw off.
The biggest issue which not many are talking about enough is the timeline being screwed up. Most know about the Marvel scroll and how each story takes place in real time. However, this Marvel film, if we go by the information we are given here, it’s a couple of years in the future, which also throws off the actual dates of Captain America: Civil War.
Spider-Man: Homecoming begins during the aftermath of the battle of New York in the Avengers’ film in 2012. We are then hit with ‘8 years later’ plastered on the screen and the Iron Man v Captain American battle in Civil War in 2016. Do the math. Something is off, or is it?

Spider-Man: Homecoming is good fun for the entire family. It flows well, looks mesmerising and thrives in entertainment. I can’t help but give it a 4 out of 5.