Spider-Man: Homecoming – A “Web” of Intrigue

Marvel movie fans wanted another Spider-Man movie.  One would think that the three Tobey Maguire Spider-Man films (in 2002, 2004, and 2007) and two Andrew Garfield ones (2012 and 2014) would have been plenty, but nobody bothered to ask me.  (I loved the 2002 and 2004 films, but I thought the others were just okay.) This time, Peter Parker/Spider-Man is played by Tom Holland, and he does a nice job.  Spider-Man is still in high school; however, after he helped the Avengers out in "Captain America: Civil War," he thinks he is "ready for prime-time," while Tony Stark/Iron-Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and his right-hand man, Happy Hogan (John Favreau), want him to get more experience fighting small-time crime.  Much of the film involves adolescent Spider-Man getting in way over his head with various crime situations and occasionally having to get bailed out by Iron-Man.  This theme, however, starts wearing thin after a while. Peter has a good relationship with his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) and a love-interest, Liz (Laura Harrier), but the Peter/Liz relationship is nowhere near as compelling as the Peter/Mary Jane one in the Tobey Maguire films.  There are; however, some very good actions scenes involving the Staten Island Ferry and the Washington Monument.  There is also a clever surprise twist and an exciting mano-a-mano fight between Spider-Man and the film's villain, Vulture (Michael Keaton). Marvel Comics/Spider-Man fans will surely like it, but, for me and Robin, it was just a pretty good summer movie.  I don't think IMAX or 3D is necessary, but, if you are going to see it, it needs the BS.