Review: 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' opts for teen drama over action

‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ is no different from the previous film iterations of the iconic web-slinger story-wise. Peter Parker is dealing with his school works like everyone, while trying to keep to himself his other costumed persona known as Spider-Man. There’s always the high school bullies, and glimpses to crushes at the cafeteria, but there’s also the pressure within him that there might be a criminal on-the-loose happening somewhere outside the campus. However, unlike the Sam Raimi and Marc Webb-directed films, this one knows where the drama belongs: the psyche of a teenager whose only goal is to be accepted.

Here, in a very fitting move by director Jon Watts, the greater conflict happens inside a car than the airplane hijack scene that preceded it. There’s no need for any action scene, a few glimpses and silent banters between two people is enough. It’s funny how a film like this is expected to incorporate an explosive set-piece, but chose to settle for less. Marvel Studios seem to do this more frequently in their films, opting for smaller-scale resolutions to their characters’ even smaller-but-largely individualistic ambitions. ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ sees a young man’s innocence and naivety as a stepping stone to the more complex issues such as teen angst, acceptance by more experienced affiliates, and being uncertain of own priorities. 

Tom Holland couldn’t be any better on his portrayal of Peter Parker in this film. We got our first look on him in the airport scene in Civil War, but that alone wouldn’t justify the balance of purity and vulnerability he managed to deliver in his turn here. Add to that the exciting presence of Michael Keaton as the formidable foe Adrian Toomes or Vulture, who is undoubtedly one of the best written comic-book movie villains in years. Toomes’ dynamics with Parker has gone on a unexpected personal direction, and results to quite an interesting confrontation. 

A lot of people might compare this film to John Hughes’ films. The film peppered a handful of references and nods to ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day-Off’, ‘Pretty In Pink’, and more. They even go as far as having a character played by Zendaya to look like Ally Sheedy’s role in ‘The Breakfast Club.’ The fact that Peter Parker, like most protagonists in a Hughes flick, has to undergo on being chained up by priorities while managing to rebel by being free-spirited, and going to a decision to keep everything grounded instead of being blinded by spectacles is a plausible move for the filmmakers. This is a John Hughes flick sprinkled with your conventional comic-book movie flares. 

‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ is at its most fun when it is going into unwanted expectations, and at its most unexciting when it does so. The lore of Spider-Man, especially given his large roster of villains, is recipe for an explosive blockbuster, but you have to know that the man behind the mask is no God, nor a billionaire, just a regular high schooler who is at his most challenged dealing with bullies and the work loads of deadline. This new iteration of the character fully explores that, and I don’t mind if that’s going to be the case for future installments of this new reimagining. 

The geek rates it 9/10!

'Spider-Man: Homecoming' is now showing in cinemas nationwide from Columbia Pictures Philippines. Rated PG by the MTRCB. 

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