That is a truly delightful Spider-Man movie. It’s a bit weird seeing him introduced after the events of Captain America: Civil War) and completely skipping how he became Spider-Man in the first place… but it works. I really like the entire plot, dealing with the fallout of the Avengers / super-hero activity and how normal people try to live their lives around it–and what happens when the powers that be step in and take that away from them. Excellent villain fuel. It’s a little silly that the Vulture ends up being Spider-Man's crush's father... , but I suppose that’s the sort of thing you expect from superhero films. Plotwise, it’s a solid, fun action film.

Castingwise, Tom Holland is great as Spider-Man. He actually feels like a dorky high schooler in a way Tobey Maguire never did and Andrew Garfield only sort of hit. He’s way in over his head–but he doesn’t care. He wants to do the right thing and he’s already got the ‘great power’ thing down pat.

Peter Parker: I’m sick of Mr. Stark treating me like a kid.

Ned Leeds: But you are a kid.

Peter Parker: Yeah. A kid who can stop a bus with his bare hands.

Speaking of, Jacob Batalon as Ned is a great friend/confidant. He’s even more geeky about the whole thing than Tom Holland is and the two feed off each other wonderfully.

And then there’s Zendaya as Michelle. She’s got a wonderfully dry, weird sense of … life. She doesn’t have a huge amount to do in this film, but you can already see where they’re going to go with her (and I have the benefit of having seen her do it Far From Home as well). Plus, I can totally see a number of people I went to school in her.

Peter Parker: I can’t make it to the Decathlon next week. I have the Stark Internship.

Abe: Oh, no.

Michelle: Peter’s not going to Nationals.

Abe: Why not?

Liz: Really, before Nationals?

Michelle: Figures. He’s already bailed out on marching band and robotics club.

[Everyone looks at her]

Michelle: I’m not obsessed with him, I’m just super observant.

And of course… Marisa Tomei as May Parker. That… is kind of weird. It’s a very different character from Rosemary Harris’ version, but I think it works.

And of course there’s the relationship between Holland and Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man. It’s not an Uncle Ben, but as a mentor/father figure, I really like how they’re doing something different and it really does work pretty well. It ends up mostly a Spider-Man movie, a touch of an Iron Man/passing the torch movie, and it really works.

Tony Stark: Previously on “Peter Screws the Pooch”, I tell you to stay away from this. Instead, you hacked a multi-million dollar suit so you could sneak around behind my back doing the one thing I told you not to do.

Peter Parker: Is everyone okay?

Tony Stark: No thanks to you.

Peter Parker: No thanks to me? Those weapons were out there and I tried to tell you about it, but you didn’t listen. None of this would’ve happened if you had just listened to me! If you even cared, you’d actually be here.

[Tony Stark steps out of the suit to reveal that he is in fact there]

Tony Stark: I did listen, kid. Who do you think called the FBI, huh? Do you know that I was the only one who believed in you? Everyone else said I was crazy to recruit a 14-year-old kid.

Peter Parker: I’m 15.

Tony Stark: No, this is where you ZIP IT, alright? The adult is talking! What if somebody had died tonight? Different story, right? ‘Cause that’s on you. And if you died, I feel like that’s on me. I don’t need that on my conscience.

Peter Parker: Yes, sir, I…

Tony Stark: Yes.

Peter Parker: I’m sorry. In sorry.

Tony Stark: “Sorry” doesn’t cut it.

Peter Parker: I understand. I just wanted to be like you.

Tony Stark: And I wanted you to be better. Okay, it’s not working out. I’m gonna need the suit back.

Peter Parker: For how long?

Tony Stark: Forever.

Peter Parker: [on the verge of tears] No! No, no, no! Please, please, please!

Tony Stark: Let’s have it.

Peter Parker: You don’t understand! This is all I have! I’m nothing without this suit!

Tony Stark: If you’re nothing without this suit, then you shouldn’t have it, okay? God, I sound like my dad.

Peter Parker: I don’t have any other clothes.

Tony Stark: Okay, we’ll sort that out.

Overall, I loved it. It’s just a fun film. Way up in my top of movies both this year and in the (extended) MCU. I just wish it were a little easier to watch.