SPIDERMAN: HOMECOMING

US, 2017, 133 minutes, Colour.
Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Robert Downey Jr, Marisa Tomei Jon Favreau, Gwyneth Paltrow, Zendaya, Donald Glover, Jacob Batalon, Laura Harrier, Tony Revelori, Bokeem Woodbine, Tyne Daly. Michael Chernus.
Directed by Jon Watts.

Chirpy!

Not exactly the word that comes to mind to describe a Spiderman movie. But, this is a Spiderman story at its chirpiest!

There was Toby Maguire, creating a contemporary Spiderman but, perhaps, a little too old. Then there was Andrew Garfield, again a contemporary Spiderman but, perhaps, a little too serious and severe. Old, serious and severe do not at all apply to Tom Holland’s presence and performance. He is very engaging, credible as a 15-year-old teenager at school, trying to find how best to fulfil his mission as Spiderman (as well is to keep it secret from his friends, the villains – and his Aunt May).

This new Spiderman made an appearance in the climax of 2016 is Captain America: Civil War. He seemed like Spiderman but there was no engaging communication of his personality. This film more than makes up for that. He finds himself, after his collaboration with The Avengers in the previous film, in a kind of internship with Tony Stark, being given his costume, allowed to intervene, but responsible to Tony Stark’s servant-collaborator, Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau who, in fact, appeared in the Iron Man films as well is directing the first two by Iron Man films).

Robert Downey reappears as Tony Stark at various times throughout the film, reminiscing about how his father treated him and how he ought to treat Peter Parker but also reinforcing his sardonic tone.

The potential villain is introduced right at the beginning of the film, Michael Keaton as a scrap metal entrepreneur with his own staff, working on material from aliens, but suddenly closed down without explanation by government authorities (embodied by Tyne Daly) but deciding to go on his own resentful and evil way.

However, a lot of the action takes place in school, especially in the anticipation of the Homecoming Dance. In fact, there are a whole lot of high-school-jinx in the vein of those popular 80s film is by John Hughes like The Breakfast Club. And, there is quite a lot of ironic and verbal humour in much of the dialogue.

While this Peter Parker is much younger than has been the case, Aunt May is also much younger, and played by Marisa Tomei. There is no quoting Peter’s uncle about great power requiring great responsibility but a moral from Iron Man himself, that if Peter Parker thinks he is not worthy without his Spiderman costume, then he is not worthy to be Spiderman. This is a motivation that keeps Peter going, reviving him when he is tempted to give up.

The screenplay intermingles the high school material with Spiderman (sometimes actually making mistakes in his heroism) confronting bank robbers which will lead him to a confrontation with Michael Keaton who has invented a huge winged disguise as Vulture.

As always, Peter is always disappearing to go on Spiderman missions, something rather disconcerting for his girlfriend, with whom he is very shy, Liz (Laura Harrier). However, a new character is introduced, Ned (Jacob Batalon), Peter’s best friend, who does discover the truth, becomes involved in the adventures, is a computer and science whiz, of course, but a bit on the heavy side. With his character, and some Asian background, with several African-American? characters, with a mixed-race marriage and daughter, quite a lot is made about multi-ethnic background.

Before the final confrontation, there are two quite exciting set-pieces, a rescue after a collapse of the top of the Washington Memorial in Washington and an attack on the Staten Island Ferry, its being split apart but a successful rescue. All this quite pacey.

There is an interesting dramatic twist at the end which gives some more intensity to the final, very elaborate fight and confrontation with Vulture.

And a final urging that it is worth sitting through the credits for the final minute where Captain America, who is seen giving TV morale-boosting sessions throughout the film, appears very amusingly to send us on our way having been well entertained by this Spiderman story.

1. The popularity of this rebooting of the series? The origins in the comic strips, Marvel Comics? Television movies? The versions with Toby Maguire and Andrew Garfield? Comparisons?

2. The New York story, but different? The city, the cityscapes, home, school, the streets, the robberies, the missions? The interventions of the government with the entrepreneurs? The musical score?

3. Tom Holland as Spiderman, age, appearance, mature but confused, his experience as an Avenger, the costume, active, the film presupposing his being bitten by the spider? The Captain America battle, the impact of Tony Stark, his internship? Happy Hogan, supervising, orders? Accountability? Tony Stark, the responsibilities? Keeping his identity secret, Ned and his friendship, discovering the truth? Peter and his attraction to Liz? The preparation for the Homecoming? The debating team, going to Washington, their skills and general knowledge? High school hijinks – and the memories of such films as The Breakfast Club?

4. The introduction, Adrian Toomes and his men, the work, the alien material and its powers, his being an entrepreneur, the government inspectors, hard attitudes, closing him down, his anger, the hiding of the piece of metal, his developing it with his crew? The eight years passing, the growing resentment, his plan, machines and tools and their abilities, on the black market, his clients and the deals? His becoming Vulture, his suit and wings? The revenge motivation?

5. Peter as ordinary, gawky, confused, eager, going on missions, making mistakes? The contact with Happy? His getting the information, knowing the faces of Vulture’s team, thugs going to action, the inventor and his science? The vehicles and numberplates? Happy not listening to him? Tony Stark and his suspicions?

6. Peter at school, the range of students, the committees, homecoming, the debating team, the meetings and practices? His friendship with Ned, Ned and his appearance, weight, computer skills, science knowledge, friendship, learning the truth, wanting to tell, quiet, involved, Peter’s reliance on him in the confrontation with Vulture?

7. Liz, Peter liking her, in the group, the teacher and the coach? Michelle and her standoffishness? Peter in the team, agreeing to go, the going to Washington, his disappearance and not participating? The mission, the attack on the Washington Monument, the special effects and the impact of this disaster? Peter saving the group, Liz and her falling, the elevator, the dangers? His being the hero? His being blamed for missing the debate, making up? Inviting Liz to the homecoming?

8. The Vulture and his team, the scientist and his perfecting the weapons, the thugs going into action, the robberies, the fights, the clashes with Spiderman, the attack on the Statten Island Ferry, splitting apart, the web holding it together, Iron Man coming to the rescue?

9. Tony Stark, as Irin Man, his robotic presence and his presence elsewhere, communication, orders, judging Peter having failed, his losing the internship?

10. Aunt May, younger than in previous films, her concern, Peter out late, losing the internship?

11. The Homecoming, Peter’s discovery that Liz’s father was the Vulture? The visit to the house, the mother fussing, the corsage, Vulture driving Peter, the confrontation, warning him off?

12. Happy and his ignoring Peter, the transfer from New York City, the plane and loading it up? Vulture and his attack? The ammunition, the special effects? Peter leaving the Homecoming, becoming involved, the fight, his being crushed, the motivation from Tony Stark that if he was worthless without the suit, he was worthless with it? The return of his energy?

13. The plane, the special effects, the action sequence? Ned and his help?

14. Stark and Happy realising what had happened? Reinstating Peter, the new suit with even better effects? The end with Aunt May’s discovery?

15. The patient audience waiting until after the credits and the humorous lecture from Captain America?

16. A chirpy and engaging film, the younger audiences, for adults, action pace and character?