Movie Review – ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’

Tom Holland recently turned 30, while Peter Parker is forever 21 or under.

For this reason, I’d wondered whether he may look long in the tooth in his new film.

Thankfully, Holland’s boyish charisma remains an integral part of the success of an entire franchise.

Here’s my glowingly positive review of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the cure for your superhero fatigue.

One Is the Loneliest Number

When we last saw Peter Parker, well, there were three of them. Only one stayed, although nobody remembers that due to Dr. Stephen Strange.

On his second try, the doctor erased Parker’s memory from the minds of his loved ones. His girlfriend, MJ, and his best friend, Ned, have forgotten he exists in the most literal sense.

Also, Parker’s beloved Aunt May died in that film, too, leaving him all alone in the world. This film picks up with a newly single and sad Parker dealing with adult life.

He has aged out of high school but cannot go to college for a simple reason. His records have been erased, too. He’s a ghost in the big city.

So, Parker restarts his life as a superhero, and that’s the crux of our story.

As the film’s name implies, home is no longer a thing for Spider-Man. It’s a brand new day.

Spidey’s facing the same challenges we all do when we go out on our own for the first time.

His days are a bit more interesting, though, due to all the super-heroism.

Credit Where It’s Due

This seems like a good time to mention that Destin Daniel Cretton directs this film.

He’d previously helmed Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

On the margins, you can identify the similarities between the two films and their protagonists. Both have a lot of growing up to do, but the talent and heart are undeniably there.

The difference is that Shang-Chi had a friend, while Spider-Man needs one. This point gets driven home early and often, albeit never in a preachy way.

Honestly, I suspect this story may have fallen apart in the hands of a lesser storyteller. Thankfully, Cretton saves the day with his firm control for the plot and the viewer’s emotions.

Combined with Holland’s ever-present, ageless everyman charm, you’ll be inclined to overlook the infrequent sloppier parts.

At its core, Brand New Day builds a mystery about a terrifying new foe. This person can take control of literally anyone and puppeteer them.

In a city the size of New York, such a phantom can be anywhere and everywhere.

We quickly learn this when Spider-Man attempts to stop a tank. Yeah, it’s bad. Somehow, the invisible foe’s worst actions come later with someone Parker knows.

Cretton keeps the action movie along at a measured yet exciting pace.

At times, I found myself thinking of James Cameron’s best work as an action director. Brand New Day never drags, which isn’t something I can say about Avatar: Fire & Ash. Also, Cameron famously tried but failed on a Spider-Man film.

So, Cretton has gained bragging rights on Cameron twice with this movie.

Hey, I Know You!

Brand New Day also serves a purpose for Marvel in reminding people how much we love the MCU. Cretton borrows some familiar faces and sprinkles them into the story in plausible ways.

Again, that’s a skill. None of these glorified cameos feel forced for a change unlike, say, Thor: Love & Thunder.

Even better, each one serves a purpose, and everyone plays well against Holland. He’s such a giving actor but also so perennially youthful that many interactions feel like parenting.

Speaking of which, family plays a subtle yet vital role in this story.

I’m trying hard not to spoil anything, but Aunt May’s tombstone tells a tale. Cretton has seeded a message about the power of kindness throughout the movie.

That’s rare for any action film, must less a superhero movie, but it’s perfect for Holland. As a naturally huggable person, his isolation here plays well to his strengths.

He’s in need of social interactions, and Cretton deftly manipulates our emotions with each one. By the end, Spider-Man is no longer alone, yet Cretton resists the temptation to cheat.

If you’re hoping that Strange’s spell magically vanishes early in the film, you’re out of luck. Ned and MJ don’t remember the third part of their trio, which somehow plays to the film’s benefit.

That constant hope that maybe they will regain their memories one day is more than enough for now. Their roles are also limited, partially due to Zendaya appearing in every blockbuster this year.

So, we meet new characters like the ones played by Sadie Sink and Tramell Tillman.

And as the trailers show, Frank Castle aka The Punisher and Bruce Banner aka the Hulk also appear. I would describe both characters as frenemies of Parker, again underscoring his lack of allies.

This film’s emotional depth requires the audience to suffer along with Parker.

Another Great Spider-Man Movie

Ultimately, what you’re watching is the fourth consecutive excellent Spider-Man movie. I wouldn’t say that this one is as spectacular as No Way Home, but that’s a high bar to clear.

We don’t have every generation of Spider-Man actor appearing in this film. Therefore, a bit of a drop is to be expected, as that movie was a one-time-only kind of deal.

What I can say with complete sincerity is that the 145-minute run-time never dragged. Cretton deftly keeps the audience engaged the whole time.

As with the best MCU movies, Brand New Day careens from humor to action to heart. You’ll get tons of all of them, along with the exciting mystery to track.

Once you realize who the perpetrator is, you’ll grow even more invested. What you thought about the story gets turned on its head, a film trick I always love.

Some of the best stories involve enemies becoming allies and allies becoming enemies. We get both here, and it all fits together tightly. In fact, I have very few storytelling quibbles.

Since I’m hypercritical about that stuff as a rule, the writing team really did its job here.

When I left the theater, I couldn’t wait to discuss the story with my wife and friends. That’s always my biggest sign that I really enjoyed a movie. And I did.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day gets a nine out of ten from me. You’re going to love it!

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