Movie Review: ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ (second opinion)

Plot: Four years after the Doctor Strange spell that made the world forget Peter Parker (Tom Holland) was Spider-Man, Peter leads a lonely existence. Embracing his Spider-Man persona fully, he totally devotes himself to being a friendly, neighborhood Spider-Man. Eschewing any personal ties, Peter watches his former girlfriend MJ (Zendaya) and best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon) from afar as their lives become richer and fuller. When a new telekinetic and telepathic enemy (Sadie Sink) threatens the safety of NYC, Peter partners with the Department of Damage Control and its head Bill Metzger (Tramell Tillman). Meanwhile, Peter also contends with his ascendant spider DNA that may be mutating him into something else. Enlisting the help of Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), Peter must save the city, his friends, and himself before it’s too late.

Review: More than any other superhero, Spider-Man has always been the most relatable. I don’t say that to discount popular characters like Superman, Batman, or Wonder Woman, but most people struggle to connect with an alien with God-like superpowers, an avenging billionaire, or a semi-immortal Amazonian with a golden lasso that reveals the truth. Peter Parker/Spider-Man on the other hand is just a normal teenager with extraordinary powers that tries to be virtuous ever single day. The key word being “tries” because he’s not always successful. Sometimes he fails, just like the rest of us. Now THAT is relatable. That’s one of the reasons this character appeals across all demographics, whether that’s race, age, gender, or religious affiliation. The proof is in the box office pudding. To date, the Spider-Man franchise has grossed over $11 billion across 11 dedicated theatrical releases.

While I have thoroughly enjoyed the previous Tom Holland Spider-Man films, they’ve always been just a little too epic, a little too obsessed with spectacle. I, like many others, yearned for the days of the “friendly neighborhood Spider-Man,” a character just trying to do the most good in his community. With director Peyton Reed handing the baton to Destin Daniel Cretton I sincerely hoped Cretton felt the same way I did. Thankfully, I needn’t have worried.

Character driven, thematically hefty, and refreshingly mature, Cretton’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day returns to the webslinger’s roots, ushering in a new era for our arachnid hero and simultaneously setting the stage for the future of Marvel. Writers Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers deliver a wholly adult story that develops our central characters yet wraps it in a profoundly satisfying superhero story that’s also outrageously entertaining. In a day and age where attention spans are at an all-time low and superhero films seem more concerned with getting to the next big set piece or boss fight, Spider-Man: Brand New Day dares to be different. In a weird way, it’s like an identity and isolation drama set in the Spider-Man universe. And damn does it work!

What sets Spider-Man: Brand New Day apart from previous films, is how concerned it is with Spider-Man’s character development. The theme of loneliness looms large throughout this movie with Peter completely isolating the human side of his superhero persona and totally embracing the character of Spider-Man. It’s clear that he’s so traumatized by the death of Aunt May and the loss of his closest friends, that he’s bound and determined to not let anyone get that close again. Avoiding pain and isolating after a severe trauma is something humans can relate to. Moreover, BND is somewhat of a commentary on addiction, with Peter becoming a full-blown workaholic. He’s Spider-Man 24/7, 365 because he believes work is the only thing that will fill the void inside him. Other than Frank Castle/Punisher (Jon Bernthal) and helpful detective Sheila Rivera (The Bear’s Zabryna Guevara) he has virtually no contact with humanity beyond his Spider-Man persona. It’s important that Cretton, Holland, and company gives Peter/Spider-Man a true arc as he realizes that even superpowered people need real human connection. Social media will never suffice because we are inherently social creatures and digital engagement always sets us at a remove.

Furthermore, BND examines what it means to reconcile with your “shadow self,” as psychologist Carl Jung put it. For much of this movie Peter struggles with his ascendant spider DNA, that manifests itself with superior speed, strength, and sensitivity but also increased anger and violence. Seeking the help of Bruce Banner, Peter hopes to suppress the worst parts of his condition while keeping the best. Yet BND asks the question, “How and who decides what’s bad? Who gets to make the decisions and wield that power?” Moreover, is your “shadow self” something you must suppress or does making peace with it actually make you a potentially better person? If you know the direction the MCU is going (*cough cough the X-Men *cough cough) you know this is a foundational concept that will have significant and world shaking impact on this universe.

Despite these heady topics and an almost two-and-a-half-hour runtime, Cretton crafts a remarkably entertaining movie that’s perfectly paced, robust in action, humorous, and full of heart. There are some truly stunning moments in this movie whether it’s a sequence where Spidey tries to stop an out of control armored vehicle, an electrifying encounter with the Hulk, or a wuxia clash with The Hand that feels directly inspired by Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, BND has the goods. Brand New Day also touts the best NYC webslinging moments ever captured on film. It feels ripped out of the PS5 video game and a lot of credit goes to Brett Pawlak’s impressive cinematography. It’s complimented by a stirring, dramatic, and playful score from Michael Giaccchino.

Additionally, the supporting cast are all brilliant in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. I was intrigued to see how Jon Bernthal’s hardcore Punisher character would jive with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, but they have amazing chemistry despite their opposing worldviews. Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner/Hulk makes for a worthy addition that never feels like a gimmick and Zabryna Guevara absolutely crushes it as the NYC detective Sheila Rivera, who serves as a strong moral compass for Peter. Batalon continues to be the low-key MVP of this series, with him remaining his loveable, goofy self, that’s even developed an app specifically to track Spidey. Even Michael Mando’s Scorpion and Tramell Tillman’s Bill Metzger add value, although their screentime is somewhat limited.

However, it was two standout female performances that really impressed me. Zendaya continues her career hot streak, with some truly jaw-dropping acting. Two scenes with Holland in particular, one on an iconic NYC rooftop and another in Frank’s domicile were particularly effective. Sadie Sink’s character of ***SPOILER ALERT*** Jean Grey also proves that she’s more than just Stranger Things. Not only is she integral to the story, but the arc Jean Grey goes on bears monumental significance to the future of the MCU. Jean’s actions in this movie have ramifications that will echo throughout the next decade of Marvel films. Sink’s work in the third act and the resultant pay off is next level great.

Yet it is Tom Holland who anchors Spider-Man: Brand New Day. He provides a depth and nuance to Spider-Man heretofore unseen. It’s a mature evolution (both emotionally, mentally, and physically) that is brilliant to watch him pull off. Holland makes his version of Spider-Man easy to root for, as he grows into his own person and realizes what’s valuable. The ones we love don’t have to be who we distance ourselves from in order to protect them. They can be a foundational pillar that props us up to help us be the best version of ourselves. That’s true growth.

Overall, I was overjoyed by Spider-Man: Brand New Day. It’s mature, weighty, and adult, while simultaneously being relentlessly entertaining and engaging. Swing into your local movie theater and see this one immediately.

My rating system:

1 God Awful Blind Yourself With Acid Bad

2 Straight Garbage

3 Bad

4 Sub Par

5 Average

6 Ok

7 Good

8 Great

9 Excellent

10 A Must See

Masterpiece

Spider-Man: Brand New Day: 9/10