If it were up to me, I think I would just go all in and make Michelle the MCU version of Mary Jane at this point. Zendaya could nail the role if given the chance so just reveal that the character's middle name is Mary Jane and have her develop into the traditional depiction of the character over the course of this trilogy.
I think I would have liked the character more if she had at least some one on one time with Peter to show some kind of actual connection to him and if, Frankly, the script gave her better material to work with... Actually that's maybe going too far. The material wasn't particularly bad, things like the Washington monument bit hit the nail on the head, but compared to all the other stuff around her it's not nearly as engaging or funny. Then at the end you get the reveal and it's obvious she's there just for set up for a later film. I have little issue with her being the MCU "MJ", or the changes from the comics be it personality or race. It just felt like at the end of the day in this film she felt quite superfluous.
You say that as if it's a bad thing. Lol Seriously, not every character needs to be important to the story or plot. Some characters are present to add to the personality and theme of the movie which is where Michelle fits in and becomes relevant. The fact that they were clearly setting her up for a bigger role in a later film is beneficial in that the writers won't have to waste time on an introduction, she's already a part of Peter's world and known to the audience. This is good, imo.
It felt to me like she doesn't register and then at the end suddenly it's "Oh... I guess I should have paid more attention to her, or something?" And that's it... If she is going to be used in a much more integral part of future films it's not I that should have paid more attention to her... It's the movie itself. Again... I have no dog in the race bending/personality shift argument. That's immaterial to me. The issue is she's in the background and given sub par "comedic" lines compared to the rest of the film. She doesn't register too much or factor into the plot, Peter's arc or much of anything. The definition the character is given is pretty cliche' and adds little to the film overall. Now, if there had been some meaningful interaction with her and Peter in some way, then the payoff in a later film would have more meaning.
In a way I feel about her the way they used Bucky in CA:TFA. They did a piss poor job of establishing the depth of the Steve/Bucky relationship in TFA, to the point I suspect that they knew that there had to be more meat on the bones of it, which is why we get a flashback to Bucky and Steve after Roger's mother's funereal in TWS. Now I don't think they can do that with a Spidey sequel, but it would have helped whatever arc they may have planned for Michelle and Peter in the next film if they had bothered to do more than write sardonic, but forgettable one liners for Zendaya to mouth in this movie.
i just find it amusing they tried so hard to pay homage to the breakfast club, and yet.. the only character to remotely feel like anyone from it in the final product was Michelle.. the rest of the film didn't really feel remotely influenced by TBC
yeah.. i didn't feel "john hughes" at all with this tbh
yeah.. i didn't feel "john hughes" at all with this tbh
Not that many. We aren't exactly talking about Hannah Montana here.I wonder how many kids wanted to see the movie just because Zendaya's in it. Disney Channel capitalized on it pretty well.