Finding the right balance between growing pains teen drama and superhero spectacular, Spider-Man: Homecoming marks another successful reboot for the popular comic book character, this time within the cosy confines of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

There was much to like in the previous incarnations of the Spider-Man universe, with directors Sam Raimi and Marc Webb (respectively) putting their mark on the famed comic book character. Yet what they couldn’t quite capture is the fact that Spider-Man is, well, not really a “man” at all. He is a teenager who is going through teenager things. Girls. School. Bullies. Grades. And also in his case, saving the world.

The re-introduction of the character might feel derivative from a distance, but in fact feels rather fresh. That the character is now nestled alongside the likes of Iron Man and Captain America (cinematically speaking) does make a difference, with his re-introduction in Captain America: Civil War all that was needed to get the Spidey train rolling again. After all, why waste any more film on an origin story that everyone knows and (quite frankly) is sick of?

No, with Spider-Man: Homecoming it’s all about progression, not repetition. Fresh off his battle alongside The Avengers, a naturally inspired Peter Parker / Spider-Man (Tom Holland) is eager to undertake more high-stakes web-slinging adventures. With a new suit from somewhat mentor Tony Stark / Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr) and a New York City as his crime busting playground, it doesn’t take long for the friendly neighbourhood super-hero to find trouble in the form of Adrian Toomes / Vulture (Michael Keaton), an arms trafficker of high-grade weaponry who doesn’t take lightly to interference with his business.

Performances are strong all around. The decision to cast Tom Holland as the title character works a charm, the 21-year-old British all-rounder successfully conveying the ego and angst that works just as well, if not better, in his portrayal of Peter Parker’s teenage life as it does in his portrayal of a superhero who essentially has training wheels on. As both a superhero and a teenage high school outcast, Parker always seems behind the eight-ball, a young man filled with good intentions but not quite enough experience to stay ahead of the game. 

As a result, the struggles and successes of Spider-Man’s heroics are given that extra feeling of stakes, which is especially felt when going head to head with The Vulture, who is about as domineering and intimidating a villain as seen in the Marvel Universe yet. This is thanks to Keaton’s menacing performance, as the star of Batman makes a triumphant return to superhero movies with a chilling turn that is highlighted by one particular scene, in which Keaton masterfully cranks up the tension to pitch-perfect results.

With six screenwriters involved Spider-Man: Homecoming could have easily been a case of too many cooks in one kitchen (which can often happen to movies like this), yet director Jon Watts does a great job of keeping everything on an even keel. Watts is especially successful in bringing a new feel to an old favourite, taking on Spider-Man’s roots as a teenage hero and establishing that world of adolescence and hitting all of the right notes while doing so.

The end result is a superhero movie and a reboot that is both fresh and invigorating for a sub-genre that can sometimes be anything but.