Spider-Man: Homecoming Reviews - 11 Critical Reactions You Need To Know

8. Michael Keaton's Villain Is Good But Underused

Spider-Man Homecoming Vulture
Marvel Studios

After a bit of 'will he/won't he?', Michael Keaton finally signed on as the movie's villain: Adrian Toomes, aka Vulture. Unlike some of the other MCU villains the stakes here are lower: Toomes runs a salvage business, selling scrap he finds after superhero battles, until Tony Stark's Damage Control puts him out of a job, and into a world of villainy.

It's a more human, blue-collar villain than we're used to, the kind of which Keaton - making his superhero movie return - should excel at. So does he? Word is a little mixed.

The Verge celebrates the way it paints parallels between hero and villain, especially in the way Tony Stark looms large in both of their lives, but notes we don't see much of Keaton without the mask. /Film call him a "satisfying villain", commenting that "Keaton brings a subtle ferocity to Adrian Toomes."

Variety agree with that, although feel he was underused, saying: "Keaton brings all the sinister, gnashing personality you could want to the role, though the movie should have given him more to do." Empire, however, state that "the human bird of prey is only mildly compelling."

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NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.