‘Blu-ray or Bust’ - SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING

‘Blu-ray or Bust’

SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING (2017, PG-13, 133 minutes, MARVEL STUDIOS/SONY)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has had its ups and downs.  In an effort to refresh the groundwork Kevin Feige laid out with the first IRON MAN film, and to make sure the multi-billion-dollar powerhouse isn’t getting too stale, recent attempts have been (for the most part) a successful undertaking.

With last year’s enigmatic DOCTOR STRANGE, none of it felt like grasping at straws so much as it did an expansion of that Universe.  ANT MAN even had its moments of renewed vigor and attitude, despite the troubled production.  Now, teaming with Sony Pictures (who owns the “Spider-Man” entity), Marvel tries shaking another character at us—one that, in recent attempts, began great and ended questionably.  The latest iteration of Peter Parker takes a different turn than its predecessors, making the character a high school sophomore and putting him under the tutelage of none other than Iron Man himself—or, at least, his bodyguard, Happy.

There are wonderful moments of creativity and charm in this film.  Director Jon Watts (COP CAR) asks the question “what would a teenager with super powers do?”  For the most part, that is where this tale gets all of its spunk from.  That, and a fun performance by Michael Keaton (BATMAN, BIRDMAN) as “Vulture”, makes for an attractive coming-of-age film.  There are several instances of a kid just being a kid scattered throughout, but like many teen flicks before it, it tends to stutter just when it is hitting stride.

Those moments of high school fun and angst begin to feel more like vignettes, and the shift in tone feels like a blatant attempt to adultify (yeah, I’m making words up now, so what) the vision.  Because, apparently, the world is only dark and dramatic when the adults get involved.

A quick synopsis, in case you missed all those previews: Peter (played by the honestly engaging Tom Holland) is given a new Spidey suit by Stark, and is told to just be the “friendly neighborhood Spider-Man”.  Things get a bit out of control when he uncovers a crime ring that is revamping alien tech and selling these newly constructed weapons to street-level thugs.  I won’t give you too many more details on the plot—always a spoiler-free zone here—but let’s just say that our young hero is forced into a “grow up or shut up” scenario.  And whereas this is a usual moment for every superhero (so much so that you begin dreading those times, the sole purpose of which is as a story arc to build the character into more than just ordinary—something that occurs in every stinkin’ Marvel and DC film), it is also one which feels like a blow to the audience, just as much as it is a blow to Peter.

Don’t get me wrong—this isn’t a horrible film.  Holland does such a good job with the role that you wonder once again at the casting geniuses back at the studio.  The special features are a must—seeing him perform his own stunts, and how they accomplished that awesome little bed flip, is worth the price of the disc alone.

Watts and Company will be back for the next Spidey flick, which is due out in 2019, but we’ll see the webslinger again before that; as a part of the Marvel Universe at last, the character will undoubtedly show up in the next Avengers films.  Let’s just hope they remember that he’s a kid, and sometimes, it’s important to stay that way for a bit.  Superpowers or not.

Film Grade: B

Special Features: B+

Blu-ray Necessary: Most Definitely

- T.S. Kummelman