Marvel Studios’ latest film, “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” feels like a homecoming of sorts for its title character. It opens to an orchestral remix of the theme song from the 1960s “Spider-Man” animated series--a choice that serves as a great indicator of what is to come. What we have here in “Homecoming” is a return to form with a twist for America’s beloved web-spinning hero.

As paradoxical as that sounds, it is truly what “Homecoming” amounts to. Though mild-mannered Peter Parker--also known as your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man--is once again a high schooler balancing heroics and homework, there are so many creative choices that set this particular Peter and his story from other cinematic interpretations. Peter is no longer solely motivated by a need to redeem himself, as in 2012’s “The Amazing Spider-Man;" rather, in “Homecoming,” he is faced with the all-too-real struggle of trying to prove himself to others.

We see Peter deal with this issue in and out of the costume, and it’s here where “Homecoming” shines. As actor Tom Holland is able to capture in his nuanced and real performance, Peter is the prime example of the underdog that deserves that spot at the top. No matter the circumstances, no matter who doubts him or tries to put him down, he doesn’t let up.

He perseveres to the end, swallowing his fear, pain, and insecurity to get the girl, beat the baddies and make something of both Spider-Man and Peter Parker. This iteration of the Spider-Man character is made endearing and easy to root for; from the moment the film begins, you just want to see the kid win.

Speaking of baddies, a common criticism of modern superhero films is that the antagonist is just some generic big bad with an evil plot that only exists to fill a villain quota. Thankfully, that criticism isn’t really applicable here, thanks in large part to Michael Keaton’s Adrian Toomes, a disgruntled scavenger who becomes the high-flying supervillain known as the Vulture.

Toomes is also an underdog--albeit an insidious one--that is greatly sympathetic and human underneath the supervillain shtick, much like Doctor Octopus from “Spider-Man 2.” In an intriguing way, Toomes also captures the struggle of proving oneself and working through adversity. In many ways, the character exhibits the essence of this struggle just as well as if not better than our main hero.

The film’s dedication to its main themes ultimately prevents it from straying too far into origin story territory. There is extremely little talk about where Peter received his powers from; in fact, it’s brought up in exactly one scene and one scene only. Much more focus is placed on the why, not the what; in other words, making us actually care about going on this journey of maturity and growth with the title character.

The rest of it is dedicated to fleshing out the other people around Peter, from the supportive but awkward Ned (portrayed by newcomer Jacob Batalon) to the snobby and arrogant Flash Thompson (portrayed by Tony Revolori). Peter’s interactions with these characters helps him to find his way, provides conflicts and struggles for him to overcome and ultimately helps him figure out what it means to be a hero.

Where the film falters is in some of its supporting cast. First, while most of the supporting cast is either endearing, fun, and/or interesting, several characters--including love interest Liz Allan (Laura Harrier) and antagonist Herman Schultz (Bokeem Woodbine)--seem like they’re just in the film as a means to an end and nothing more.

The worst offender is the character of Michelle (Zendaya), who feels like she’s supposed to be the movie’s answer to Allison Reynolds from “The Breakfast Club,” but never really reaches the same level of gravitas and feels somewhat empty. These particular characters and others feel clichéd and stymie the film’s goal of distancing itself from other films in its genre.

Thankfully, the action has a little more in the way of originality. There aren’t any world-threatening entities in this film, so the action, as a result, feels a little more contained and easy to focus on. It’s marvelous to watch Spider-Man swing, punch, and kick without constant explosions popping up in the foreground and background.

Additionally, there are real stakes and urgency to the action; from a ferry splitting in half to a gang of bank robbers with high-tech cannons, the film is able to capture comic book action without losing the audience’s interest by showing them half-baked, Avengers-style battles.

“Spider-Man: Homecoming” is a breath of fresh air for the titular character and yet another sensational entry in Marvel Studios’ line of films. Funny, charming, action-packed, and very re-watchable, it excels at bringing something unique to the table in a genre that for many is oversaturated.