Spider-Man: Homecoming - Film Review

Spider-Man: Homecoming is the sixth Spider-Man film released in the past 15 years and the second attempt to reboot the franchise with an all new cast and creative team. You’d think at this point the character would have lost his appeal, but it speaks to the brilliance of Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s original creation that he hasn’t. And it’s to the credit of Marvel Studios, director Jon Watts and the film’s SIX screenwriters (including Watts) that Spider-Man: Homecoming feels like a breath of fresh air.

But most of all, it’s thanks to Tom Holland, the youngest actor to portray the character in the franchise’s history. In Holland we have, for the first time, a Peter Parker/Spider-Man who actually feels like a teenager, complete with all the angst and turmoil that would entail. Beyond just wanting to see Spidey succeed and save the day, you actually fear for his well being because at the end of the day he’s just a kid. Holland is a delight, endearing and sweet as Peter Parker and hilarious and enthusiastic as his web-swinging alter-ego.

Spider-Man: Homecoming’s greatest strength is the way it scales things down. The comparisons to John Hughes’ films are fitting. This time around the name of the game is fun, and it’s in the high school scenes that Spider-Man: Homecoming really shines. The young supporting cast is just wonderful, with newcomer Jacob Batalon being the standout as Peter’s best bud Ned. Zendaya is another wonderful addition as the snarky Michelle. Holland’s scenes with them provide some of the film’s biggest highlights and I sincerely hope when the inevitable sequel comes around, we get to spend more time with the kids.

Honestly, the weakest elements of the movie are the main villain and the need to connect it to the Cinematic Universe. Not that the Vulture isn’t a good villain. Michael Keaton is excellent in the role and genuinely terrifying. There are some great scenes between him and Holland that evoke genuine shivers. It would have been nice, however, to get a bit more development and genuine understanding of his motivations - he always talks about how he’s doing what he does for his family, but in this case, a little bit more ‘show’ and less ‘tell’ would have gone a long way.

I also understand the need to showcase Tony Stark to prove to general moviegoing audiences that this new Spidey franchise is part of the overarching Cinematic Universe, and Peter’s relationship with Tony provides a solid arc for Peter’s character. It’s just that because of this franchise building mentality it feels like this Spider-Man doesn’t have as much room to stand on his own and carve out his own niche.

If there’s one realm in which Spider-Man: Homecoming left me feeling truly dissatisfied it’s in the lack of an emotional arc for Peter’s character.

I’m going to get a bit spoilery here, so just a heads up:

I know Uncle Ben was mentioned ad nauseum in previous films, and I understand wanting to move away from that direction, but Uncle Ben is THE reason Peter does what he does. I found it more than a little odd that Uncle Ben is never mentioned once, other than vague allusions. I don’t need this iteration of Spider-Man to get as angsty as the Tobey/Raimi version, but the character needs more of an emotional core.

**END SPOILERS**

Spider-Man: Homecoming isn’t strong enough to dethrone Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 1 and 2, but it is undeniably fun and loaded with lovable characters and great action. It’s a promising start for this new franchise within a franchise and as long as Marvel keeps the character grounded and focuses more on his emotional struggles it could be something really special.

And just to follow up on my series ranking article, here’s my revised ranking of the Spidey films:

1. Spider-Man 2
2. Spider-Man
3. Spider-Man: Homecoming
4. The Amazing Spider-Man
5. Spider-Man 3
6. The Amazing Spider-Man 2

FINAL RATING: 4/5

Doctor Strange - Film Review

Doctor Strange is yet another efficient cog in the Marvel Movie Machine. It successfully entertains and moderately thrills, but it never fully engages or enthralls. Much of its successes are in large part due to its stunning and inspired visuals as well as yet another excellent cast led by Benedict Cumberbatch. Its drawbacks are much the same as the other middle-of-the-run Marvel films: standard plotting, simplistic villain and an all-too-familiar story structure.

Doctor Steven Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is one of the most prestigious neurosurgeons in New York City – probably the entire world. He takes pride in his steady hands as well as his unparalleled music trivia knowledge.

He’s also a pompous jackass.

And I’ll pause here for a moment to give Marvel Studios props for giving us a protagonist who is relatively unlikable for a good chunk of the film’s runtime. It’s a bold move and their willingness to mess with their tried and true formula is exactly why the studio has been so successful over the past decade. Dr. Strange regularly belittles his colleagues, takes for granted his one, true friend: fellow surgeon and ex-lover Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams) and behaves in a generally selfish manner. His life is upended when a horrible car accident takes away the use of his hands. When modern medicine fails him, he delves into the world of the mystical and discovers possibilities and powers far beyond anything he could have imagined.

Doctor Strange works best when it focuses on its characters and its action sequences, the latter of which are some of the most bonkers Marvel Studios has pulled off to date. Buildings fold and bend, floors expand and contort, universes are passed through on a whim and energy is focused and honed to create magical weaponry. Director Scott Derrickson (The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Sinister) has a strong handle on the other-worldly material and the flashy visuals, but to his credit, he never forgets to pause every so often in order to give the characters some room to breathe.

As I’ve already said, Cumberbatch is excellent as Strange, lending a relatability and likability to a character who, for the most part, behaves rather deplorably. His character arc from selfish, entitled neurosurgeon to selfless, badass superhero feels earned and it’s largely due to Cumberbatch’s talents as a performer that we’re willing to stick with Strange through thick and thin. The supporting cast, featuring the likes of Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tilda Swinton, Rachel McAdams, and Mads Mikkelsen, is strong, but none of their characters are as well-drawn as that of Strange’s. Thankfully, their talents overcome this drawback and they manage to charm regardless. The chemistry between them provides the film with some of its finest moments and biggest laughs.

The plotting is what really holds the film back from greatness. This was an excellent opportunity for Marvel to get a little weird and push the boundaries of their storytelling method. They opt instead to play it safe, perhaps to normalize the otherworldly visual onslaught for general audiences, or perhaps because they don’t want to mess with a solid formula. Probably both. Whatever the reason, it’s a shame they didn’t take more of a risk here, especially considering the absurd possibilities of the source material. (If you haven’t already, I highly recommend checking out Jason Aaron’s current run on the series. It’s spectacular) In an odd change of pace from Marvel’s standard formula, Doctor Strange’s climax ends up being one of its more inspired moments. I won’t spoil it for you here, but it was refreshing and creative in a way I was hoping the entire film would be.

While I couldn’t help wishing the storytelling had been as bold and awe-inspiring as the trippy effects, Doctor Strange is still a highly entertaining work from a studio that, even when it doesn’t hit one out of the park, manages a solid base hit. I’d rank it below Marvel Studios’ best cinematic outings (Iron Man, The Avengers, the latter two Captain America films), but it falls right in line with Captain America: The First Avenger, Iron Man 3, Guardians of the Galaxy and Ant-Man. More importantly, it introduces another excellent character into Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and holds the promise of more exciting things to come. I can’t wait to see how Doctor Strange fits in with the rest of the gang.

FINAL RATING: 3.5/5

Captain America: Civil War - Film Review

Captain America: Civil War contains one of the single-best action sequences I’ve ever seen. I’m not just talking superhero movies; I’m talking all movies. You’ve seen snippets in the commercials - our two opposing heroes Captain America and Iron Man, backed by their faithful posses, stare each other down at a deserted airport before rushing at each other full speed. The superhero brawl that results is so much fun and so exciting, but also surprisingly hilarious in a way that enriches the entire set-piece.

And that’s what really makes the Marvel Studios repertoire so special. They understand that humor is the key to unlocking something more important: Humanity. Civil War, the third Captain America-centric entry of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), never forgets to honor the humanity of its characters even amidst the spectacular effects and action. And  although Civil War overflows with dozens of characters and subplots, it still manages to tell a coherent story and take its characters on a captivating, emotional journey. Not only is this the successful culmination of a number of character and story arcs that have been in play since the MCU began with 2008’s Iron Man, it expertly piques excitement for future entries in the series. For a film series this long-running to keep you pumped and riveted for more even after 13 entries is a mighty impressive feat.

After a covert Avengers mission goes awry, causing the deaths of innocent civilians, the United Nations issues an Accords, which will give them full control over when and where the Avengers are deployed. The team is split on the decision. On one side of the argument is Steve Rogers a.k.a. Captain America, who believes the Avengers shouldn’t have to wait to get their missions approved by a committee when innocent lives hang in the balance. And who’s to say the UN would be the best people to make the decisions in the first place when politics can become so easily corrupted? Rogers has witnessed this corruption first-hand and isn’t eager to surrender his rights over to an agenda he doesn’t agree with.

On the other side is Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man. He feels personally responsible for the destruction caused by the Avengers’ actions over the years. The Summons, he feels, is a way to legitimize the team and hopefully gain back the general public’s trust.

In the midst of all this Summons nonsense, the Winter Soldier, a.k.a. Bucky Barnes, a.k.a. Cap’s WWII bestie, reappears at the center of a major terrorist attack. Rogers must make a decision to defend his longtime pal by operating outside the law, which will put him directly at odds with his Avenging brethren and Stark in particular.

Civil War puts our heroes in some tough moral predicaments and offers them no easy outs. Things get messy and it’s clear the rifts caused by the film’s events will have a lasting impact on the MCU. With its themes of accountability and broken friendships, the film explores darker territory than usual. But what’s really amazing is that it also manages to be one of the most entertaining entries in the entire series. It’s simultaneously the most serious and the most hilarious Marvel movie yet.

Chalk the film's successful blending of tones up to the return of the creative team behind 2014’s outstanding Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo, with the aid of screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, have done an outstanding job juggling a number of characters and themes while keeping the proceedings coherent. That they’re able to give all these heroes a moment to shine, strong motivations and even individual arcs without the entire film buckling under the weight is nothing short of extraordinary.

Where Civil War’s story comes up short is in its general lack of focus, an area in which The Winter Soldier excelled. Maybe this is to be expected with so many characters and so many plotlines to focus on, but the Captain America/Bucky storyline, which drives most of the narrative, tends to get lost in the mayhem. The film's 2nd act in particular seems to lose track of this storyline for quite some time.

But what Civil War lacks in overall cohesion, it more than makes up for with majestic spectacle and compelling character development. Performances are stronger than they’ve ever been. Chris Evans does an excellent job portraying Cap’s moral dilemma and struggle. Robert Downey Jr. is just as wonderful as he’s always been, but this time around his performance carries a depth and thoughtfulness we haven’t yet seen from the character.

I also loved the attention devoted to the supporting characters. Bucky and Sam, a.k.a. The Falcon, (Anthony Mackie) have a particularly great love/hate relationship. Some of the film’s biggest laughs come from their standoff-ish interactions. Vision and Scarlet Witch (Paul Bettany and Elizabeth Olsen respectively) have some really great moments together, which showcase not only the growth of their relationship, but their individual characters as well. It’s a major improvement over their shoe-horned inclusion in Age of Ultron.

The entire show is very nearly stolen by Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man, making his first appearance in a 'team-up' flick. He's laugh-out-loud funny in practically every scene. We also get the introduction of two new major players to the MCU, and while Marvel might be asking you to side with #TeamCap or #TeamIronMan, one thing’s for sure: by Civil War’s conclusion you will undoubtedly be #TeamSpidey and/or #TeamPanther.

With minimal screentime, we may have the best live-action Spider-Man ever in Tom Holland. He not only perfectly encapsulates the awkwardly endearing nature of Peter Parker, he nails the non-stop quip-happy exuberance of everyone's favorite wall-crawler. As a long-time Spidey fan, I couldn’t be happier and I can’t wait for him to get the opportunity to fully strut his stuff in next summer’s Spider-Man: Homecoming.

I know less about Black Panther’s comic book roots, but I’m already pumped for his solo movie, which is being directed by Fruitvale Station and Creed helmer Ryan Coogler. The character is such a badass and Chadwick Boseman does an outstanding job in the part.

I adored every minute of Captain America: Civil War. While I still favor Joss Whedon’s first Avengers film and The Winter Soldier, Civil War is easily the action film to beat this year. Marvel has raised the bar for big-budget entertainment once again, and while people may lament the supposed ‘death of cinema’ at the hands of the superhero genre, as long as Marvel keeps putting out films that are this thoughtful and this much fun, I am more than happy to stay on this bandwagon.

FINAL RATING: 4.5/5

Ant-Man Wins Big By Keeping Things Small

Sometimes the best things really do come in small packages, as evidenced by the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s 12th feature Ant-Man. After the chaotic, overstuffed mayhem of Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant-Man feels like a breath of fresh air. It has its negatives – familiar story beats; an underwhelming villain; not to mention its proceedings carry an inescapable sense of triviality. But these are easily outweighed by an overall sense of fun and a stellar lead performance from Paul Rudd.

Ant-Man scales things down significantly for a Marvel movie, both literally and figuratively. Its story follows Scott Lang, a kindhearted thief who’s just been released from prison following a legendary single-man heist. He’s determined to leave the life of thievery behind him and to make good by his 5-year-old daughter, who lives with her mother (Judy Greer) and step-father (Bobby Cannavale). Despite Scott’s good intentions, his criminal record makes it difficult to maintain a steady job and despite his reluctance he ends up getting pulled back into the thieving world by the promise of a major score. Turns out, the ‘score’ is an elaborate ruse to assess his skills orchestrated by none other than Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), a mastermind scientist and (as comic fans are well aware) the original Ant-Man. Hank was forced out of his company by its new CEO and his own ex-apprentice Darren Cross (Corey Stoll), who is hard at work developing his own shrinking formula to sell to the highest bidder. This could spell disaster for the future of mankind, so, Hank recruits Scott to help him steal Cross’ formula and ensure it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.

Ant-Man works in so many ways it’s easy to forgive its structural shortcomings, which have become almost commonplace for Marvel Studios’ origin tales. It carries the zippy, tossed-off punchline energy of the first Iron Man, which keeps it feeling fresh and fun even as the plotting and exposition threatens to hold it back from true excellence. Director Peyton Reed does an admirable, if relatively uninspired, job keeping things breezy and exciting. The smaller-scaled action sequences are often stunning and frequently hilarious. As unfair as it might be, it’s difficult not to ponder the potential of an Edgar Wright-helmed Ant-Man film, but Reed proves to be a decent successor.

Where this film truly shines is in its casting. As I’ve already mention, Rudd’s performance is what truly elevates the material. He is a natural leading man, charming and self-effacing without being overly cloying. He’s the perfect everyman and makes it very easy to root for him. Michael Douglas is immediately likable as the original Ant-Man Hank Pym and Evangeline Lilly gives a solid turn as his daughter Hope. Lilly gets the short stick of development as the token female character/romantic interest, but she manages to hold her own and the promise that she’ll have a bigger role to play in future films helps lighten the blow. Corey Stoll as the film’s primary antagonist has to deal with the same underwritten villain territory that plagues practically all of these films, but he’s totally game for it and actually manages to elevate the material with a sheer sense of villainous glee. My personal favorite supporting characters are Scott’s personal thieving team, played by Michael Pena, David Dastmalchian, and Tip “T.I.” Harris. All three provide the best possible comic relief, with Pena being the show-stealer for practically every scene he’s in.

Ant-Man wraps up Phase 2 of the Marvel world with a nice little bow and sets the stage nicely for things to come without getting bogged down by Marvel’s incessant need to foreshadow future events and provide cameos for its other beloved characters. Though the lack of significant stakes makes it difficult to get too concerned about any of our primary players, the sheer volume of fun, laugh-out-loud moments is enough to keep Ant-Man’s head above water. Truth be told, I think I may prefer Age of Ultron, but I appreciated Ant-Man more due to the simple fact that it takes the time to tell a story and allows its characters to breath without the incessant need for constant, chaotic action.

FINAL RATING: 3.5/5