It has a lot going for it but the MCU fan service holds it back

Rating: 7/10 (22 August 2017)

I really liked 'Spider-Man Homecoming'. For a genre that really is afraid to try new things I thought 'Spider-Man Homecoming' offered a fresh take on a character that seemed to offer no new surprises. It isn't a movie that will break dramatic new ground but it has the capability to make you smile and at the very least it is a different approach to the character of Peter Parker who desperately needed one. The key to the success here is that 'Spider-Man' has fun. It's funny and light and doesn't dissect the nature of heroism. I can't begin to tell you how much of a vast improvement on the Nolan-esqe Garfield films and the 9/11 residue on the Raimi films. I want to offer a high recommendation but the film still has the traps of a MCU film. The cast sells it as Spider-Man really does swing to new heights until he crashes into the MCU fan service.
Holland is probably the most effective Peter Parker as he has an identity outside of being Spider-Man. We actually believe he is struggling with adolescence because he doesn't over punctuate everything with angst. I really liked the female characters too. Laura Harrier and Zendaya are both very funny and have personality outside of being Peter's object of affection and something for Spider-Man to save. Holland also doesn't come across as a Norman Bates stalker in his interaction with them like Garfield and Maguire did.
Keaton is also pretty awesome as he is in everything. The character is a lot more fleshed out than a lot of the Marvel villains. He's angry but his backstory actually is kind of clever and is a nice mirror to the story of Spider-Man in that they are both blue collar heroes and villains. I wish he and Tony Stark shared a scene together because it would be interesting to see this type of villain interact with Robert Downey Jr's loud obnoxious characterization of Tony Stark.
The Marvel fan service is what kills this movie. Robert Downey Jr is phoning it in for a paycheck in the most obvious fashion possible. This movie could have easily have worked without the presence of the overt Marvel reminders. Holland's characterization deserved this.