Spider-Man: Homecoming Review

Starring: Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Jon Favreau, Zendaya, Donald Glover, Marisa Tomei, Robert Downey Jr, Jennifer Connelly, Jacob Batalon, Laura Harrier, Tony Revolori

Contents:

Opening

Peter Parker / Spider-Man

Iron Man, Happy, and the Avengers

Aunt May

The Vulture

The Twist (Spoilers)

Karen

A John Hughes Superhero Film?

Donald Glover

Diversity

The Problem with Setting Up

If you're feeling franchise fatigue with this series, you're not alone. In the time I have been alive there have been three different Spider-Mans and six movies. After the reboot failed miserably with The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Sony handed the web-slinger's rights back over to Marvel in a co-production agreement. Spider-Man finally joined the Avengers in Civil War last year and he will return for Infinity War next year. This version of the web-slinging hero is played by Tom Holland, who was an actual teenager during filming. He is the most authentic version of Peter Parker that I have seen. He seems like a kid playing a kid and it seems to come naturally to him. This is the most fun I have ever seen Spider-Man have, and it harkens back to the cartoons I grew up with as a kid. Peter Parker has a special place in my heart and it is really meaningful to see him in this way. However, I have to push that beaming fanboy aside and acknowledge some serious issues this movie has. I love Spider-Man and I want nothing but to love this movie. Yet it took maybe 45 minutes before I figured out if I even liked the film. This movie has some pacing issues and it focuses too hard on getting its ending correct so it can set up a future movie. This is the issue Marvel is facing these days and it's the same problem that tanked The Amazing Spider-Man 2. They still have not learned from their mistakes. Before I get too much into this problem, I am going to break down more of what I liked and what I didn't like in this NON-SPOILER review below.

Peter Parker / Spider-Man

Tobey Maguire was never Spider-Man to me. Andrew Garfield perfectly captured the angst of the character, yet it was clear by the second film that he didn't possess the playful side. Tom Holland arrives with the complete package. I saw a little-known film called The Impossible at Railroad Square five years ago. In it, Holland plays the son of a family caught in the 2004 Indonesia tsunami with the kind of heart one doesn't expect a child actor to have. I knew he was destined for greatness if only he found the right agent to take him there. His dramatic chops are at play in some of Peter's key scenes, but he also possesses the wide-eyed wonder that makes him relatable. He reacts as you and I would if we suddenly woke up with superpowers. I think that Homecoming succeeds when it focuses on Holland's Peter because it grounds it in the present day. Too much of this movie is crafted on setting up the future.

Iron Man, Happy, and The Avengers

I was worried that this would be Robert Downey Jr weaseling his way into another solo movie. However, this is surprisingly not a Spider-Man / Iron Man team-up film as the trailers would suggest. In all actuality, he's nothing more than a cameo. I appreciated this angle rather than having him dominate screen time because I'm a little tired of Iron Man at this point. I think it's sad that Marvel did not trust Homecoming to sell tickets alone so they had to attach RDJ to the ad campaign to sell tickets. Happy, on the other hand, became the character I never knew I missed. Jon Favreau brings such joy to this role that it is a pleasure to watch him act. It just made sense that Happy would be the liaison between Peter and Tony. As for the Avengers references, it seemed a little too TV for me. I haven't been a fan of the Marvel or DC TV shows because they just seem like commercials to me. Seeing glimpses of the tower and hearing names dropped here and there felt a little too scripted for my taste, and it made the film lose its focus.

Aunt May

I'm searching for a way to say "milf" professionally. Anyways, that is the angle with Aunt May and it's jarring but a lot of fun. For someone used to seeing Aunt May as a feeble old lady, it's shocking to see Marisa Tomei's sexy and fun performance. As this franchise reboots time and time again, Aunt May seems to get younger with each iteration. She didn't have a big role in the film, but what she did was very noteworthy. She seemed like the reasonable age to be Peter's aunt and mother-figure. She actually helped guide him through situations he could not do on his own. We assume she's a widow yet we have no mention of Uncle Ben so she seems like her own woman and has her own story. They took a gamble and I think it paid off.

The Vulture

When it comes to villains, Marvel usually misses the mark. While DC has some of the best villains ever dreamed up, Marvel has fallen short with all but Loki. Recent efforts of last year such as Doctor Strange and Civil War also provided lackluster villains. Luckily, Marvel has decided to start casting Oscar-caliber actors and it's paid off brilliantly. Kurt Russell became arguably the studio's most serious villain, and Cate Blanchett in Thor: Ragnarok looks to be a deliberate move by the studio to fix the common criticism. Smack in the middle is Michael Keaton, who has been enjoying a renaissance of his career since his Oscar nomination in Best Picture winner Birdman. Ironically, he's a bird-man here as well, playing the Vulture. His background is brilliant, as he is depicted as a literal vulture who cleans up superhero debris from cities and his motivation is realistic. He isn't really a "bad guy" per se, rather a man driven to an extreme who has made the wrong decisions. The Vulture feels like one of the scariest villains Marvel has offered audiences. He threatens children and attempts to murder them. Keaton definitely delivers, and he outmatches every actor he shares a scene with. I've been a huge fan of where his career is gone, and it seems like he is still making great choices.

The Twist
WARNING: SPOILER ALERT

Click below at your own risk.

The point where I respected this movie came in a rare instance of shock and awe. For most of the film I was trying to figure out if I liked the direction of the characters and the pacing. I had almost made up my mind for the positive when I was hit with a huge twist. Peter is going to the homecoming dance with the girl of his dreams, and is on his way to pick her up. When he answers the door he realizes in shock that the Vulture is her father. The way this scene builds up is interesting, as there is no buildup. It comes so far out of left field that I would challenge anyone to come forward and say they saw this coming. Peter's love interest was black, and my mind would have never guessed that he was in an interracial marriage with a mixed race daughter. The idea of it hung in my mind and I commend the movie for its brilliance. What follows is a tense car ride in which the Vulture takes what his daughter is saying and slowly pieces together that Peter is Spider-Man. Historically, Peter's secret identity is one of his character's most important aspects, and to see his enemy discover him is terrifying. It was unexpected, but the best Vulture scene was in a car without a costume.

Karen

Peter gets an AI courtesy of Tony named Karen. She acts much like Jarvis did for Iron Man, providing him with all kinds of gadgets and tactical advice. Karen is voiced by Oscar winner Jennifer Connelly, who is actually Paul Bettany's wife (Bettany voiced Jarvis and appears as Vision). This is a very cool nod and Karen has some of the funniest scenes in the film. However, I think a major problem was how sexual they made her out to be. She seemed to have a lot of romantic advice for Peter and her tone was often concerning to me. For artificial intelligence, she seemed to have a specific agenda in mind and if he's a kid, this is kinda crossing the line. I've seen Ex Machina, so female AIs will always leave a bad taste in my mouth.

A John Hughes Superhero Film?

Peter Parker's been in high school before, but Andrew Garfield and his co-stars were far too old to give an authentic view of what high school really is. In Homecoming, they have younger actors, but they make a very interesting choice in how they depict high school. Their version is ripped straight from the reels of John Hughes' classic films. From the social hierarchy to the camaraderie between different groups to the accented color palette, this is a John Hughes vision of a superhero movie. The actors should fit perfect caricatures of Hughes' casts, yet none of them really connect. Peter's love interest Liz seems like a stepping stone and not a dire interest. His friend Ned is often rude and annoying, and not trustworthy. It seems like Peter's right-hand man will always be his girlfriends, and I honestly am interested to see how they handle a new Mary Jane. Flash Thompson doesn't seem like a real obstacle to Peter, which is a shame because Tony Revolori needs a good role after his turn in The Grand Budapest Hotel.

Donald Glover

I really hope there are not any huge Donald Glover / Childish Gambino fans anxiously waiting to see him in a superhero movie. He says next to nothing and does even less. It's honestly a glorified cameo. I'm perplexed as to why they would cast someone with the mainstream heat and pure talent that Glover possesses and waste him. Actually, I have a pretty good idea, and this segues into my final two sections.

Diversity

Diversity is a tricky thing to execute correctly, especially in movies as mainstream as superhero films. Homecoming has been the first film to try to have a completely diverse cast. Holland is white, but various other ethnicities (not just African-Americans) appear in the supporting cast. However, these actors have very little to do in this movie. It's honestly the Spider-Man / Vulture show, and everyone else is relegated to cameos. I expressed my dismay that Donald Glover was subject to this treatment but he's not alone. And here we arrive at the problem. Diversity for the sake of diversity is ridiculous. It pushes no new ideas forward and ultimately has nothing to offer. Simply put, it is wasting opportunities. I hope that Black Panther switches this up, because it has a mostly black cast simply because the source material's cast is black. Race-bending is an interesting idea but it has to be done correctly. If not, you'll end up with Homecoming's issue: a film that claims to be starting a conversation about the issue yet has nothing to say.

The Problem With Setting Up

My biggest problem with Homecoming is that these movies don't feel like complete thoughts anymore. There are easter eggs galore and references to events that have not even happened yet. I want to see grounded, realistic characters and a script that is focused on the present, not looking towards the future. Of course, providing any examples would give spoilers, but I read a review that called this film "Easter Egg: The Movie" and that is shockingly accurate. When it's good, it's good, but Marvel has its eyes on a prize far off in the future, and on a finish line that only seems to extend with every film.

Rating:

Wonder Woman Review

Starring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Connie Nielsen

If you're a diehard fan of the DC Extended Universe (aka Man of Steel, Batman v. Superman, Suicide Squad) you are in the minority. These movies have been torn up by fans and critics alike, and have failed to generate the kind of excitement and revenue Marvel consistently achieves. While Batman v. Superman was a cluttered mess, one light saved the film from being written off as garbage: Gal Gadot. Suddenly everyone was anticipating a Wonder Woman film, and fans desperately needed it to be good. Wonder Woman is the first major film with a female superhero as the lead, while simultaneously directed by a woman. Wonder Woman blew expectations out of the water when it opened with over $100 million and started off with a Rotten Tomatoes score in the high 90s. I've seen the film twice now, and both times it has managed to blow my mind. This film is so different than the cookie-cutter superhero films we are used to. It's artistic. It has vision. Marvel films are great, but this is the kind of quality entertainment action fans deserve. Even this early, I would argue Wonder Woman is possibly the best superhero movie since The Dark Knight in 2008. It isn't without its flaws, but it presents one of the most satisfying, well-crafted, and seemingly perfect action movies I've seen.

Gal Gadot

This has been mentioned numerous times, but I still feel it needs to be said. Gal Gadot is Wonder Woman. She transcends any acting ability and she becomes the character. It doesn't happen very often in superhero movies. By no means does Benedict Cumberbatch "become" Doctor Strange nor does M "become" The Hulk. I'd say the only other examples to compare Gadot to are Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man, and Heath Ledger as the Joker. Yes, that is how good she is as this character. She plays every note of Diana Prince's character superbly. From her humble beginnings, to her introduction to the human world, to her self-discovery and her discovery of the true nature of mankind, Gadot nails every emotion. Her facial reactions are powerful. Her physical acting is a spectacle. I believe that anything more is just rambling, so let it be known that Gal Gadot, even beauty aside, is the perfect Wonder Woman.

Wonder Woman

Gal Gadot aside, something needs to be said for Wonder Woman and the powers she has. She's a little overpowered, yet she feels authentic. Superman is basically a God, yet he seems alien and un-human. Diana is a Demigoddess, yet somehow she seems human. I'm not certain how immortal she is. I think while regular things can't harm her, bullets can still pierce her skin (Antiope took a bullet for her) and there seems to be actual stakes in her battles. Yet she also can deflect bullets so easily that it's kinda ridiculous how powerful she is. Her sword is pretty cool, yet as powerful as she believes it is, she never uses it casually. It'd make things so much easier. But hey, maybe she's saving it for Ares. Her lasso of truth is so well done. They even gave it an explanation I never asked for.

Chris Pine

Out of all the "Hot Hollywood Chris's",  Pine was my least favorite. Maybe it's because Evans, Hemsworth, and Pratt were at the forefront of Marvel, whereas Pine heads Star Trek (which I don't watch) and he's the love interest of a DC superhero I wasn't particularly interested in. Yet with this performance, he might be the most competent love interest in the history of superhero movies. Maybe it's because he's a man, and that shows a problem with sexism in action movies. But Maggie Gyllenhaal, Emma Stone, and Gwyneth Paltrow have all created equals to their respective heroes. Yet Steve Trevor feels like the equal to a goddess, and that is a feat. While Diana is so over-powered and so wise beyond her appearance, he stands as her equal. She loves him, but he isn't a side-plot. Their love actually isn't even the forefront and he never feels second-billed. He carves out a great storyline and he holds his own against Wonder Woman, while actually creating a lovable character.

The Love Scene

There is a point in this film where Diana and Steve have sex. Now, we always assume that Tony Stark and Bruce Wayne have sex with their respective others, but there really hasn't been a sex scene. Wonder Woman is also devoid of a sex scene, though it has an immense buildup to a very poignant and tender love scene. Steve teaches Diana how to dance, and she has her first experience with snowfall as they stand close, swaying back and forth. They go upstairs, and the music swells as she looks at him with love. They kiss passionately, and it fades to black. It's very tame, of course, this is a PG-13 film we're talking about. But through their entire dance scene, I felt very strong emotions that built up to this beautiful climax as they went upstairs. The chemistry between Gadot and Pine is just so intense. It was deep, it was moving, and it was a standout of the film. This is the correct way to tastefully include sex in a movie meant to include children and families.

The Action / Slow-Motion

The reception to Wonder Woman's action has been divided. I think the extended slow-motion sequences come off excellent, while some people think they are overdone. It is true that slowing down fight scenes is a large part of director Patty Jenkins' vision for this film, but I think it is not cheesy, nor does it go into "Matrix territory". I think the action is artistic, and it has a unique flair that separates this film from others in the genre. We really get to see the action when it's slowed down. However, there is a scene at the end where there is a large battle, giant explosions and hundreds of casualties. It is as if this film threw away all the artistic visuals and went instead for a typical DC ending like in Batman v Superman or Suicide Squad. It was much more meaningful than those films' endings, and it had its moments, but overall it was a black mark on the film for me.

Feminism

One of the biggest headlines surrounding this film is the feminist angle. This is the first solo female superhero movie. Wonder Woman is a feminist icon. The film is directed by a woman. Yes, this movie is feminist. Diana is a fantastic character with the outwit, outplay, and defeat any opponent that comes her way. She is in no way a stereotype in any form. But it is the kind of feminism that all movies should strive to achieve. It isn't in your face. I'm thrilled that people have accepted this movie because it really is inclusive. It never tries to claim that Diana is above all men, rather, she is above the human race of men. And she is. I hope that other movies can follow Wonder Woman and promote feminism that everyone can get behind, and portray it as positively as this film did.

Ludendorf & Doctor Poison

Without spoiling too much, these two actors turn in very fine performances. Neither one of them is a very complex character, and Doctor Poison is even used later on to show the true wickedness of man to Diana. These people are just pure evil. I enjoyed the contrast of Ludendorf's military and war themes and Doctor Poison's witchcraft, and how those played off of each other. Overall, they didn't end up really doing much for the story as antagonists, and the message of the film didn't really tie into either of their characters. I was much more invested in Diana and Steve. Also, there are multiple scenes where Ludendorf snorts something and it makes him super-powered...I've seen it twice and I'm still not sure what that was. It never gets addressed and it is very unusual and campy.

Comparison to Marvel / Conclusion

I am arguing that this film is better than what Marvel is currently offering. I love Marvel films, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is one of my favorite movies of the year. But they have a formula, they stick to it, and it works. A film like Wonder Woman, that has an artistic vision, themes of war, and a deeper message about pinpointing blame on ourselves instead of a God, really stands out as a breath of fresh air. Not since The Dark Knight trilogy have I seen a superhero film attempt to dive this deep. The Winter Soldier did a great job, but Patty Jenkins proves that an indie filmmakers touch can do wonders. Wonder Woman has flaws with its last act, and it leaves the viewer with a little bit of cheese. But for the entirety of its refreshingly short runtime, Wonder Woman is a massively enthralling experience that even casual moviegoers can enjoy.

Rating: