Solid reboot saddled with franchise setup

Rating: 7/10 (8 July 2017)

When "Homecoming" is actually about its hero, it's a lot of fun. And I think the reason it wasn't quite amazing is that I was expecting a Spider-Man movie, not another billboard for upcoming MCU movies. It needed less Iron Man and Avengers movie shoutouts, which distract from the good stuff.
But it's that good stuff where the film excels and that's due in large part to casting Tom Holland in the lead role. He delivers on the promise of that teaser appearance in "Civil War". And it strikes just the right coming-of-age tone; Peter belongs in high school. Michael Keaton plays the heavy with great sneer, and Marisa Tomei is exactly what you'd expect as a younger Aunt May (plus, she offers one of the greatest closing lines I've ever heard). These are great spins on classic characters. Throw in what's gotta be the funniest use of Captain America in a Marvel movie, and there's a lot to like here.
It's a purely functional reboot, I just wish they'd let Spider-Man stand on his own.
7/10