"Spider-Man: Homecoming"- Welcome home, Spidey! A fabulous return for one of the most beloved and iconic comic-book heroes ever created!

Rating: 9/10 (19 July 2017)

Over the past nine years, as Marvel's Cinematic Universe has risen to legendary status in the world of entertainment, there has always been one consistent and never-ending hope in the minds of fans the world over... that perhaps one day, Marvel's iconic and beloved creation Spider-Man could return home and join the ranks of this ever-growing franchise. But it always seemed like such a pipe- dream... Something that could never happen. After all, Sony owned the rights to the character, and had crafted a franchise including some very well- received and wildly successful films centered on the wall-crawler. Heck... still to this day, director Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man 2" is one of the finest comic-book to film adaptations ever released.
Then something magical happened. A deal was struck, and it was announced that Marvel and Sony agreed to work together to bring Spider-Man into the MCU. Fans were thrilled. Spirits ran high. And we eagerly awaited the return of one of our favorite characters. And after a brief introduction in last year's fantastic "Captain America: Civil War", we finally have the first stand-alone Spider-Man adventure in Marvel's universe- "Spider-Man: Homecoming." And it is a welcome and extremely successful work that emerges as one of Spidey's best films to date!
It's been several months since Peter Parker (Tom Holland) joined Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) for his last adventure, and young Peter is starting to feel antsy and under-appreciated. He passes his time juggling schoolwork, stopping petty crimes and endlessly calling Stark's second-in- command Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau), begging for the next mission so that he can prove himself and become a proper "Avenger." But Peter soon finds himself drawn into a treacherous and life-threatening situation when he learns of the rise of a new supervillain- Adrian Toomes (Michael Keaton), a disgraced former salvage worker who had been driven out of business and has taken to using recovered alien technology from the "Battle of New York" to develop and sell advanced weaponry to criminals. And Peter will quickly learn that his adolescent desire to prove himself could very well spell his doom when Toomes sets his sights on eliminating the wall-crawler using an advanced weapons-system he developed that turns him into the dreaded "Vulture"...
Directed by Jon Watts, "Spider-Man: Homecoming" excels thanks to its absolutely wonderful cast and the phenomenal atmosphere it crafts, filled with humor, adventure and intrigue. Tom Holland showed a promising start in last year's "Civil War", but here he shows us that he is beyond a shadow of a doubt the absolute definitive on screen Spider-Man. He plays Peter as that delightful underdog dork that we know and love, while also giving Spider-Man that trademark comedic and energetic edge. Holland is destined for super-stardom. Michael Keaton is also just perfect as a troubled man who has been taken down a dark path into a life of crime. Like many of the great Spider-Man villains, you sympathize with Toomes while also loving to hate him for the terrible things he does, and Keaton is clearly having a great time playing such a villainous role. Supporting actor Jacob Batalon is a ton of fun as Peter's best friend Ned, who quickly learns Peter's secret and turns into an immediate fanboy who vows to help him in any way he can. Marisa Tomei and Zendaya are both very good in their respective roles as Peter's supportive Aunt May and offbeat classmate Michelle, and both get their moments to shine. And of course Robert Downey Jr. is a blast and a half as Tony Stark... pretty much as expected at this point.
The film is exceedingly well constructed and boasts a phenomenal tone and atmosphere that in a lot of ways hearkens back to classic high-school comedies of the past. It's no secret that John Hughes was a big influence on the film's many sequences set in Peter's school, and I actually found these to be some of the most effective scenes. It captures that magical, youthful energy you'd see in movies like "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and "The Breakfast Club", yet still has a flavor all its own. I wasn't sure about seeing Peter back in High School yet again, but by far this movie does the most creatively with the concept. The handling of character and story is wisely done, with everything kept fast and loose, yet also with just enough breathing room to develop. It's never a dull film, but you also always know what's happening, which character is where in their emotional states and how the grand story is moving along. And to top it off, the action and effects are absolutely mind-bending to boot! With a good combination of both practical and digital effects and the imaginative minds at Marvel, Spider-Man has never looked so good!
In the end, it really comes down to one simple fact- "Spider-Man: Homecoming" might not necessarily be the best Spider-Man film. And it isn't quite flawless. It does have a few minor issues that pop up here and there and they do hold it just shy of getting a perfect score from me. But for the most part? It is a thrilling, enthralling, endlessly charming and wildly exciting ride and a grand return home for the character. Not only does it feature the best on screen Spidey yet, but it also boasts sharp writing, entertaining action set-pieces, witty humor, likable characters and a whole lotta heart. And honestly... there isn't much more I could ask for, and I am most certainly looking forward to the inevitable sequels and follow-ups. I give "Spider- Man: Homecoming" an excellent 9 out of 10.