Film Review: Spider-man: Homecoming

The web slinger is back. His experiences with the Avengers notwithstanding, he returns in a fresh, if not slicker, avatar. Fifteen years after Spider-Man hit the screens and 10 years after Spider-Man 3, the latest in the franchise of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has the 19-year- old English actor Tom Holland essaying the role of, at times Peter Parker —a 15-year-old high school kid, and part-time Spider-Man.
Mentor Tony Stark/ Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) dissuades Parker from undertaking dangerous missions, but the superhero in him comes to the fore while dealing with Adrien Toomes  (Michael Keaton) who feels was dealt a raw deal by Iron Man in the  past. Toomes aka Vulture wreaks revenge and havoc  by unleashing missiles made from the alien technology remnants from the Chitauri invasion.
Of  course, Parker comes to the rescue,  whether it’s  Staten Island  Ferry or rescuing  damsel-in-distress, and  love  interest  Liz (Laura Harrier).
Director Jon Watts, with  unrestrained access  to and unlimited  help  from his  VFX team, has helmed a superhero story which, at times, resembles a teenage flick  (if one discounts the special effects).
As Spider-Man, Tom Holland debuted during the  ending of  Captain America : Civil War. Still, mentor  Stark feels the superhero is not  yet  ready to take on the  world’s evil powers and  so the  lad, with a specially  designed Spider-Man suit by Stark, amuses himself and his  colleagues by indulging  in various  petty heroics.
Dusting  off the  cobwebs from the  prequels, Watts eschews the  earlier Tobey Maguire and  Andrew Garfield stories by  making ‘Homecoming’ a standalone Spider-Man film.  Also,  it’s the  first one  to have a  subtitle.
Ironically, it is Michael Keaton who had essayed the  role of  Batman in its 1989 film, and who now impresses with  his masterly expressions, especially in the  opening  scenes.  Also, watch out for Tony Stark un Sherwani in the  Indian  wedding  scene.
And do not  exit the auditorium while the  end-credits are  rolling. Marvel  Pictures  have  made it a habit of  letting the viewer in on sequels to  follow.