The Hero is Way More Than Just the Suit

Rating: 9/10 (9 July 2017)

After fearlessly saving Liz, played by smart pretty Laura Harrier, from the plunging elevator in Washington Monument as Spider-Man, 15 year- old Peter, played by Tom Holland, summons all his courage to tell Liz, "I like you." Peter then asks the girl of his dreams to the Homecoming dance, "Do you want to go with me?" This is the distinct delightful charm of "Spider-Man: Homecoming". Director and Writer Jon Watts's "Spider-Man" is visually stunning action as when Peter strains together the severed ferry boat in the Hudson. "Homecoming" is clumsy and clunky at times, but it is all heart.
Watts and the army of screenwriters, Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley, Christopher Ford, Chris McKenna, and Erik Sommers composed the narrative based on the Marvel Comic with varying outcomes. Tom Holland is the star who enrolls our compassion. As Spider-Man and his teenage persona Peter, Holland has a frenetic and gee whiz charmâ€”he captures the kid whom Peter Parker really is. Peter's friendship with geek buddy Ned, played by spirited Jacob Batalon, has a sweet and timeless air of youth and innocence.
Fortunately, the story leverages the gravitas of Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark and Iron Man in the new role of Peter's mentor and father figure. Holland's quiet power emerges from this screen partnership and expands throughout. After Tony confronts Peter's recklessness, Peter tells him, "I wanted to be like you." Tony says, "I wanted you to be better than me!" At its best "Homecoming" is about seeing and allowing for the greatness in others.
At times however, "Spider-Man" stumbles over itself. Michael Keaton as the villain Vulture and Adrian Toomes is not compelling. Keaton's performance is magnetic. All Toomes is, is angry and bitter. No nuance of the character. He is about money and greed. So what? "Homecoming" opens 8 years ago as Tony Stark and the Government void Toomes's lucrative construction contract to repair the demolished Avengers Headquarters following the vicious alien invasion. In the following years Toomes utilizes the stolen alien technology from the Avengers site to steal and market weapons of mass destruction. With this technology Toomes creates himself as the advanced weapon, the Vulture. We empathize with great villains in their exposed humanity. Unfortunately, as good as Keaton is, Toomes is a heartless jerk.
In a departure from previous "Spider-Man" movies Peter's guardian Aunt May is played by stunningly beautiful and funny Marisa Tomei. Previous incarnations of Aunt May were as a much older sage woman. Not someone who gets hit on by the server at their favorite Thai restaurant. In a touching scene Peter implores Ned not to tell Aunt May that he is Spider-Man, because "she has suffered enough". Watts clearly missed the opportunity to deepen the relationship with May, who believes and loves Peter. She is kind and soulful as she coaches Peter for his Homecoming date. Too bad much of Tomei's performance is the irony of her youthful attraction.
In the story Peter returns from battle in "Captain America: Civil War" with Tony Stark (Downey Jr.). Tony gifts Peter with the Stark Industries high-tech Spider-Man suit. Peter believes that if he proves himself, he can become an Avenger. In the meantime, he'll be the hero as "the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man". Tony's assistant Happy, played by hilarious Jon Favreau, takes charge of Peter's personal growth. When not doing the "Stark Fellowship" duties, Peter resumes high school life as member of the Academic Team and sparring with iconoclast Michelle, played by wonderful Zendaya, who perhaps is a little too annoyed with Peter.
Holland's exuberance and understated power make him perhaps the best Spider-Man in a long while. His mercurial presence lightens up the screen on "Spider-Man: Homecoming". He captures the frailty, grace and courage of the hero. His Peter discovers that the hero within is way more than just the suit he wears. He finds his power as he believes in himself. That inspires in "Spider-Man: Homecoming".