Iron Man Recruits Peter Parker
It’s a relatively gentle beat amid some frenetic action sequences, but it provides levity, and serves to introduce a very different version of an overly familiar character – that of Spider-Man. The announcement of the inclusion of Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War was met with excitement from many quarters, but derision from others.
Spider-Man is officially joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with a solo film scheduled for release in 2017, but the idea that the Peter Parker version of this character would be rebooted again, for the third time in 14 years, seemed unnecessarily gratuitous.
But, this moment is our first introduction to the MCU version of Spider-Man, and it is very reassuring. The young actor, Tom Holland, dispenses with the tedious, angst-ridden Parker that has plagued our screens and instead presents a teenager whose shaky self-confidence leans more toward comedy than pitiful melodrama.
Here, this performance is the perfect counterpoint to the swagger of Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark – as he reveals that he is aware of Parker’s secret identity and is impressed with his work. This is, effectively, Stark reaching out and taking a protégé under his wing – something that sets both characters up for great things in the future.