SPIDER-MAN:
Homecoming
Director: Jon Watts
Cert: 12A, 133 mins
Spider-Man has always been one of the most empathetic superheroes, trying to balance the mundane pressures of everyday life with his destiny as a hero.
In last year’s Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man was finally introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, populated with such characters as the Avengers.
Spider-Man: Homecoming makes use of this wider world. Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland) longs to help and spend time with his distant mentor Tony Stark/ Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr) and the rest of the Avengers, but keeps on being brought back down to earth.
The villain, Adrian Toomes/The Vulture (Michael Keaton), has similar frustrations, feeling he has to rely on the scraps of the rich and powerful to provide for his family. However, he responds in a very different way, using scavenged alien technology to pull off heists, and selling dangerous alien weaponry on to others.
To protect and to prove
Ignoring Iron Man’s warnings, Spider-Man tries to stop The Vulture, in an attempt to protect his neighbourhood and prove himself a worthy hero. However, when it becomes apparent that this could put the people he cares about – including Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), his best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon) and Liz (Laura Harrier) – in danger, he faces difficult decisions which will test his character. As Tony Stark tells him: ‘If you’re nothing without the suit, you don’t deserve to wear it.’
Humour
There’s plenty of humour in the film, including Peter and Ned each geeking out at various times about their proximity to the world of superheroes and associated things.
Tony Stark wrestles with how best to be a mentor to Peter Parker, telling him: ‘My father wasn’t very supportive. I’m trying to break the cycle of shame.’
Ultimately, Peter Parker grows as a person, learning contentment and the value of connecting with the people around him, rather than having to impress others.
As Christians, because Jesus accomplished it all by his death and resurrection, we now have nothing to prove. We’re free to do good and love others, without having to worry if it’s enough, because we serve the one master who is truly good (c.f. Colossians 3.23-24, Matthew 11.28-30).
Spider-Man: Homecoming is an entertaining, character-driven film, which balances the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe with telling its own story. (There are two end credits scenes.)
