After the fairly disastrous Amazing Spider-Man 2, fans thought that was possibly the end of the cinematic adventures of everyone’s favorite wall-crawler, at least for a while. But then Sony did the smart thing, and made the deal with Marvel Studios to allow Peter Parker to join his fellow heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with new Spidey Tom Holland in the role. And as they said in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, “and there was much rejoicing.”
But even though Kevin Feige has a pretty stellar track record over at Marvel Studios for making solid product time and again, was it possible that he and director Jon Watts could make Spider-Man feel fresh again? After all, this is technically Spider-Man 6. As a franchise, it’s getting a little long in the tooth.[brightcove video_id=”5476824050001″ brightcove_account_id=”3653334524001″ brightcove_player_id=”2bfa565b-5412-4cfd-9211-6269880b8a5e”]
Well, this week there was an early screening for critics for Spider-Man: Homecoming, and so far the word is….pretty damn good! Mind you, these reviews are coming from a screening for members of the junket press preparing to interview cast and crew, and many of them might be biased. Or at least an argument can be made for that. But the early word for Wonder Woman is very similar, and we all saw how that turned out–awesome.
First out of the gate with his thoughts is longtime Amazing Spider-Man comics writer Dan Slott. What did he think of Peter Parker’s return to the big screen?
#SpiderManHomecoming is like watching a @BRIANMBENDIS & Mark Bagley ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN arc brought to life on the big screen! 👍👍 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) June 24, 2017
And it seems film Twitter was just as effusive with praise. Can we say that it got everyone’s Spidey senses tingling? (OK, I apologize for that one).
SPIDER-MAN HOMECOMING is my favorite of the Spider-Man movies so far. I like first two Sam Raimi ones but this is better. Avoid spoilers!! pic.twitter.com/bF4CsZsKU5
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) June 24, 2017
#SpiderManHomecoming is SUCH a good time. Fun, inventive action w/ some of the best humor in a Marvel film yet. Great start for MCU Spidey! pic.twitter.com/8kTnG6wtO2
— ErikDavis (@ErikDavis) June 24, 2017
#SpiderManHomecoming is SO MUCH FUN. The action is BADASS. Tom Holland is THE BEST Peter Parker hands down. I’m pumped after seeing it 💥🕷
— Molly Freeman (@mollyrockit) June 24, 2017
#SpiderManHomecoming is one of the best Marvel movies and the best Spider-Man movie, period. So completely terrific, a true crowd pleaser.
— Eric Walkuski (@ericwalkuski) June 24, 2017
Seriously, #SpiderManHomecoming is a blast. The best Spidey movie since 2004 and the one comic purists have always wanted!
— David Crow (@DCrowsNest) June 24, 2017
I can finally tell you #SpiderManHomecoming is great fun. Very funny, sweet, smaller stakes but more relatable. Tom Holland rocks. pic.twitter.com/eZmyUBXYKe
— Jim Vejvoda (@JimVejvoda) June 24, 2017
#SpiderManHomecoming is fantastic. Perfectly cast. Does an impressive job of balancing superheroics & high school drama.
— Angie J. Han (@ajhan) June 24, 2017
Spider-Man: Homecoming is endless fun, from the first second to the last. Flawless.
— Brandon Davis (@BrandonDavisBD) June 24, 2017
#SpiderManHomecoming felt just like reading a Marvel comic book — other heroes appear, heart-stopping twists, and bursting with humor. pic.twitter.com/Hx3tzBsaNB
— Joshua Yehl (@JoshuaYehl) June 24, 2017
Spider-Man: Homecoming is a blast. It has an innocence that differentiates it from the other MCU movies but plenty of fun & spectacle too.
— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) June 24, 2017
SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING is an absolute, gosh-darned DELIGHT. It’s like Spider-Man meets CAN’T HARDLY WAIT.
— Mike Ryan (@mikeryan) June 24, 2017
My ★★★★½ review of Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) on @letterboxd: https://t.co/jmPBqV8Bvg
— Kurt (@KurtisSmejkal) June 24, 2017
Michael Keaton gives us the best MCU movie villain since Loki. Maybe better. #SpiderManHomecoming
— Kristy Puchko (@KristyPuchko) June 24, 2017
Also, who knew all it took was Michael Keaton & Spidey’s rogues gallery? Because #SpiderManHomecoming‘s Vulture may be an MCU villain best. pic.twitter.com/CUdEZYB8uP
— David Crow (@DCrowsNest) June 24, 2017
Well, what are our takeaways from these reviews? Well, for starters, it seems we finally have another villain worthy of Loki in an MCU movie, if these critics are to be believed. Secondly, it sounds like this time, they remembered that Spidey isn’t all teen angst, he’s supposed to be fun too – and funny. Also, here’s another hot take: for all the sticks in the mud out there who say comic book movies are the end of cinema, and a tired genre, etc – Spider-Man: Homecoming is looking to follow up Wonder Woman, Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol.2, LEGO Batman and Logan among the best reviewed movies of the year. Each of these movies is vastly different from the other, and yet all are comic book superhero movies and have done great box office and had great reviews. So take that, all you film snobs.
And finally, it looks like this Sony/Marvel Studios partnership was a match made in comic book heaven, if we are to believe these early reviews. Maybe this is further proof that the folks at Fox need to just get over themselves already, pick up the phone and call Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige and work out a similar deal with the Fantastic Four. Just do it, Fox. It’s time. Spider-Man: Homecoming proves it can work.
Are you as excited about all these great Spider-Man: Homecoming reviews as much as we are? Be sure to let us know your thoughts down below in the comments.
Images: Sony / Marvel Studios