Simplicity and strength

Rating: 9/10 (13 July 2017)

Spiderman: Homecoming is a very aptly named film. "Spiderman" brings expectations of action and superhero-ness while "Homecoming" is indicative of a more down-to-earth, familiar teen comedy tone. This film is a smooth blend of the two genres. You come to know this right at the beginning of the movie where some scenes from our hero's past experiences play out as a part of a video log that he is making, in a very home-movie like fashion.
Spiderman, after his stint with the broken-up Avengers finds himself wanting to be called back in to the team and receive the kind of importance he thinks he deserves. In the meantime, he gets involved with a seemingly local issue with mysterious people yielding other- worldly weapons. This makes for a good number of action sequences but also provides ample space for humor. If you thought GotG was funny, you're in for a treat. In almost every single scene in which we're shown the normal high school life of Peter Parker, there's a sprinkling of comedy. From Peter's nerdy high-school bestie, Ned to his aunt May, everyone gets a portion of those lines.
The new Peter Parker is a typical teenager who's undeniably sweet but who also succeeds in fulfilling the great responsibility *wink* of a superhero whenever it's required he do so. Tom Holland's version has qualities from both the previous portrayals—the awkwardness of Tobey Maguire's Spiderman and the comic timing and wit of Andrew Garfield's. The casting is spot on.
Some parts of Spiderman's story that we're familiar with from the earlier franchises are left out and with good reason. No one wants to see the same old storyline repeated. There is a fresher take on the plot with more involvement from newer characters that were not present in the other Spiderman films. The story is a very personal one to our lead, showing us all his capabilities and his process of growth. It focuses on even the smallest of things in his life like how he accidentally "webs" a person trying to open his own car (thinking he's a thief) and how that ensues a banter amongst the neighboring homes occupied by the elderly (no points for guessing who makes a cameo, here). Somehow none of it feels out of place in the least.
It is quite like any other Marvel movie in certain ways but also different because it is more stripped down, on the whole. The villain, Vulture, isn't very threatening initially or even someone who would have ended up being a very intimidating character had it not been for the circumstances, he found himself in. But after the intermission, the story goes into combat-mode. The motive makes sense and so does the struggle of our young lead in trying to balance two very different spheres of life. Interestingly, Vulture's backstory has roots in one of the earliest MCU films. There is a twist as usual towards the end; nothing too wild but something that puts Peter in a very difficult situation.
The future of Spiderman isn't very clearly stated but knowing how he's going to be in Infinity War, we can guess. There are two scenes after the movie ends and it is recommended that you stay till the end of the credits for the post-credits one (sooooo important) :P .
A small part of the movie, towards the end, seemed slightly loosely plotted where Peter was trying to save some valuables of Iron Man's, simultaneously fighting off the Vulture too. This kind of a situation should never have arisen as Iron Man's possessions should not be ones that can easily be plundered.
Some people might also think Peter Parker's character should have been a more serious, responsible kind of person. But he is significantly younger in this film with not as much of a traumatic past as the other Spiderman depictions. We just have to accept the fact that this version is away from the usual and has different goals to accomplish as it is not the first film of a standalone trilogy but instead, a movie that is a part of a much bigger and complex universe.
Every once in a while we need a break from the stress of the universe potentially ending to go back to the basics. This film achieves that purpose splendidly while also giving us a story that is important for us to know the character better. We'll have a lot of the craziness in Ragnarok anyway, I expect.