EYES rolled when it was announced that Spider-Man would be swinging its way back onto our screens back in 2015.

Two reboots in five years seemed a bit like overkill, especially when many didn’t see a need to reboot them at all after the original Sam Raimi films, bar the abysmal third movie.

Those people were wrong.

Spider-Man most certainly needed a reboot, it just required the right people involved.

This is where Marvel Studios stepped in, negotiating a landmark partnership deal Sony, which own the rights to Spider-Man, in order to bring him into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and link up with the Avengers in the impending Infinity War films.

Anyone who saw Captain America: Civil War last summer will have already have had a glimpse of this new, younger Spider-Man, played by British actor Tom Holland.

As we’ve already been introduced, thankfully Spider-Man: Homecoming isn’t an origin story, rather a coming-of-age story.

Set when Peter Parker is still in High School, Homecoming sees the 15-year-old battle with everyday teenage problems, such as a schoolboy crush, while simultaneously grappling with having superpowers.

Parker is given a swanky new suit after being taken under the wing of the self-titled genius, billionaire, playboy philanthropist Tony Stark, better known as Iron Man.

Keen to prove his worth, Parker bites off more than he can chew and goes after – against Stark's orders of Stark – Homecoming’s villain, Vulture, played by Michael Keaton.

Keaton’s character is largely the reason why Homecoming succeeds where the previous three Spider-Man films have failed.

Indeed, one of the biggest criticisms levelled at Marvel’s own offerings has been its underdeveloped villains. Not so here.

Vulture is essentially the little guy that has managed to work himself in a position where he can fight back against his oppressors.

He’s ruthless, but he is also a family man, something that many audience members will be able to relate to.

While you could argue his backstory is somewhat rushed, it succeeds in helping understand his motives, and this is boosted by another great performance from Keaton.

Holland’s performance is also commendable, although his prepubescent voice can be a tad grating at times.

Visually Homecoming looks stunning, the action sequences are thrilling and there is plenty of humour sprinkled throughout.

All in all Homecoming is a worthy return to form for the friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man, but more than anything it signals an exciting future – if brief – within the MCU.

8/10