SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING

It's time for the portrait of the superhero as a teenager.  Spider-Man: Homecoming is the latest summer superhero film, with a whole lot of high school drama as well as superheroics.

Homecoming wisely skips the very familiar origin story and jumps into the life of Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland) after the events of Captain America: Civil War.  Peter is bored by stopping petty crimes and wants more action, even hoping to join the Avengers.  But he's being watched and mentored by Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau), who want him to remain "a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man."  They also give him a "super suit" with numerous setting and a talkative A.I. named Karen.

When a gang is stealing and selling advanced and alien technology, Spider-Man sees a chance to prove himself by taking down the gang and keeping it a secret from his handlers.  But the gang is led by Adrian Toomes (Michael Keaton), who dons a truly frightening high-tech Vulture costume to step in when his gang is threatened.

All of this is accompanies by plenty of high school drama.  Peter lives with his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), who he doesn't want to know he's Spider-Man.  Peter's friend Ned (Jacob Batalon) finds out he's Spider-Man and geeks about it all the time.  Peter has a crush on Liz (Laura Harrier), is bullied by Flash (Tony Revolori), and always seems to run into sullen Michelle (Zendaya).  And Peter thinks if he becomes an Avenger, he can completely skip school to be a full-time superhero.

Spider-Man: Homecoming is pretty good.  Tom Holland perfectly captures a teenager whose duties as a hero keep interfering with his personal life, and one who's learning as he goes along.  Michael Keaton is a suitably creepy villain, and the high school characters are all solid.  The action is done well, and there's plenty of comedy, from Peter's nervousness to Captain America's very square recorded PSAs played for high school students.  I do think the movie spent a little too much time in high school, which made the film feel a little long.  But Spider-Man Homecoming is a worthy addition to the Marvel cinematic universe.

Overall grade: B+
Reviewed by James Lynch

Wild Hogs (2007)

While I'm not a fan of motorcycles (we call them "donor cycles" in the hospital for a reason!), there are plenty of middle aged guys that acquire them during their midlife crisis years- in fact I know a few. Using this sociological phenomenon as a backdrop, the film Wild Hogs takes a look at a bunch of guys, and their need for the open road.

We have John Travolta, William H. Macy, Martin Lawrence and Tim Allen all stuck in their lives. They decide to shake it up a bit, and take a trip from Cincinnati to California on their motorcycles. Along the way, they have some humorous misadventures- their tent burns, a run in with the law, skinny dipping in a mountain lake when a family arrives, and a run in with a biker gang- the Del Fuegos. It all ends up in a show down in Madrid, New Mexico (as an aside, a nearly abandoned mining town that is having a renaissance as an artist colony, a real interesting place to visit if you ever get the chance, and have the chili at the local saloon) where Macy meets a local, played by Marisa Tomei. Our bikers have it out, and the Wild Hogs (big surprise) emerge victorious.

Wild Hogs reminds me of the film Dumb and Dumber. There is a lot of physical comedy, and we're never quite sure when Macy is going to fall off of his bike again. While humorous at first, it does get old as the film progresses. Also, while each of the scenes is fine, they didn't add up to a greater whole. While they do make it to California, I don't get a clear sense that our characters are sufficiently changed for their experience, and won't go right back to what they were upon their return to their homes in Ohio. While any road trip film is more about the journey than the destination, Wild Hogs is more out of balance than most.

I don't want to leave you with the impression that this was a bad film. It was well acted, and I was engaged through most of it. I think I just expected something less adolescent from the star studded cast. If you want some light physical comedy, and don't expect a deep story, than Wild Hogs is a pleasant diversion.

--Jonas

Overall Grade: B

The Watcher (2000)

Keanu Reeves and Marisa Tomei star in The Watcher, a psychological thriller. This movie reminds me of an Alfred Hichcock film in the high level of suspense created.

Reeves plays David Allen Griffin, a creepy serial killer, and has left a trail of dead women for the police to figure out. One former FBI agent, Joel Campbell, ably played by James Spader, worked the case before, but has retired on disability and now wants nothing to do with this. In case you haven't guessed it yet, he gets off the bench and back into the game of life to catch this killing machine.

While the killer leaves no clues which leaves the police without any trail, he decides to make this more interesting. He does this by sending a picture of his victim to the police before he kills them a day later.

In one way, The Watcher reminds me of any number of serial killer / psychological thriller films. However, the FBI agent functions as a kind of modern day Sherlock Holmes. The police may be inept, but he pieces together what others miss, and methodically hones in on the killer.

For those that enjoy a good thriller, than you'll find The Watcher quite satisfying. If you get creeped out easily, than this is not for you. As an aside, this film does feature a lot of great views of Chicago.

Overall Grade: B