For some folks, anything short of Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man in the early 2000’s is going to be disappointing. While I personally liked the Sam Raimi movies (yes, even the cheesiness of Spider-Man 3 and tonally askew New Goblin fight), I was a kid and Spider-Man was more mythic hero than every-day friendly neighborhood crime-fighter when it came to those films. The Spider-Man I knew from the comics of the ‘60s and the “Ultimate” reboot was just a kid - a good kid, but often going up against powers and odds well beyond his pay grade. And Tobey’s portrayal just doesn’t scratch that Millennial itch for me, and that’s okay. I never felt like Peter was someone I would have gone to high school with - he’s supposed to be a social outcast, but not because he’s unlikable, but because he’s awkward and has a weight on his shoulders that no one else does.

Director Jon Watts, I think, saw the all the good things in the original “Spider-Man” film, and took what he could to instill into Tom Holland’s Spider-Man without trying to mimic the look or the feel of those movies. There was no need to live up to those films because Watts’ team wasn’t trying to make “Homecoming” some kind of grand homage to the originals like J.J. Abrams had to with “Force Awakens” in relation to “A New Hope”, especially since Sony’s previous attempt at a reboot with Andrew Garfield (who wasn’t terrible himself, but that’s another article) was such a garbage fire. But you’re probably wondering if the film is good - well, there’s a chance you haven’t seen it yet and I won’t spoil anything, but yeah, it overall kicks a ton of ass. Tom does a great job playing a dorky, lovable kid who just wants to grow up (despite literally being old enough to drink Stateside), and overall the film he’s inhabiting understands that the appeal of Spider-Man was never the griminess of Uncle Ben’s death (which thankfully is glossed over without erasing the event), but rather that Spider-Man is a people’s hero, someone who “looks out for the little guy” as is so often repeated in the dialogue.

It’s kind of astonishing to see Michael Keaton play a villain, since I remember him as the stoic Tim Burton Batman, but he really pulls it off and is more than menacing in every scene he’s in. My only complaints are that Zendaya as Michelle doesn’t get enough screen time, and that the Easter Egg about Miles Morales (who was rumored to be the MCU Spider-Man before the Sony/Marvel character rights deal was announced) are ultimately unsatisfying. But overall, I was charmed by Tom and his relationship to Robert Downey, Jr.’s Iron Man, as well as his hella cool bro Ned played by Jacob Batalon. The cast synergy made me smile and laugh more than once, and in a world where imperialism, war, famine, and racism is all too common, “Spider-Man: Homecoming” is a breath of fresh air.

8.5/10, solid movie, I have a good feeling about this new kid on the block.