(Note: Because it’s been about three months since its release and everyone has seen it by now, this review includes a spoiler section on who the villain is.)
Even if we’re in an era where everybody complains about superhero fatigue, that can pretty much be thrown out the window when it comes to our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. It’s unclear where the MCU is heading, but there’s no doubt Spider-Man: Brand New Day will have more impact than anything they’ve released in the past few years. But was I anticipating the long-awaited fourth installment with Tom Holland’s return? Yes, but not as much as I expected from other blockbusters this year, even though he’s my favorite Marvel hero. Unlike most fans who are unfairly calling them unwatchable, I’ve always enjoyed the previous three movies with Jon Watts at the helm, and 2021’s No Way Home was not only one of the biggest post-COVID films, but also in the MCU’s top 10. What will make this different and stand out on its own? Nowadays, it’ll be tough for any recent comic book movie, whether it’s from Marvel or DC, to be labeled the greatest anytime soon. Surprisingly, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, while not a masterpiece, is the most mature portrayal of the web-slinger we’ve seen on the big screen yet.
What’s the Story: After Peter Parker (Holland) tells Doctor Strange to cast a spell that makes the world forget who he is and wipes the memories of those he loves, including his girlfriend MJ (Zendaya) and best friend Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon), he’s left alone. Over the next few years, he lives in secret and still protects the streets of New York City, working full-time as Spider-Man and earning the trust of police detective Jean DeWolff (Liza Colón-Zayas) and the city’s citizens. Though he keeps to himself, Peter’s still trying to figure out how to reintroduce himself to MJ and Ned, who recently moved back to New York after graduating from MIT. As he deals with criminals and supervillains left and right, his superpowers have changed: he shoots organic webs, has gained heightened senses he can’t control, and may be the only one who can stop further attacks on the Department of Damage Control as an unstoppable, mysterious threat emerges.
What makes Brand New Day great off the bat is how grounded it feels compared to its predecessors, while still delivering another entertaining Spider-Man movie for fans. The end of No Way Home was a ballsy move for Marvel, leaving everyone wondering where they will go from there. We’ve seen Peter balance his life in high school; now we see him lonely, using his brain and skills to become the best web-slinger there is. The choice to have Daniel Cretton take over from Jon Watts was a surprise, but he was the right man to change the character’s pace and take what Watts built in the trilogy to new heights here. He’s no stranger to the MCU, having directed the underrated Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, co-created the one-season series Wonder Man, and was initially attached to helm “The Kang Dynasty” before the project shifted direction. Compare and contrast how it all started: Homecoming opens with Peter struggling to balance crime-fighting and not getting much respect, then flashes forward to him saving the day every day, set to the perfect needle drop of “Wolf Like Me” by TV on the Radio (also “Loser” by Tame Impala later on).
We’re four standalone movies deep, and I can’t help but love what Holland brings to his interpretation a decade since he first appeared on screen, believe it or not. Seriously, going from his best non-Marvel performance in The Odyssey to his best performance as Peter/Spidey in such a short time shows Holland can do anything when given a great story. It’s strange to say it’s better to have a story about him being depressed can work, but it does. We’ve usually seen him with somebody on his side, and it’s the same here, but he’s on his own. This is a more mature Peter, where he’s dealing with guilt and grief now, an adult dealing with things physically and mentally he hasn’t done before, including the surge in his arachnid hormones. That element echoes Spider-Man 2, except “Peter Two” lost his abilities. This is also one of my favorite Spidey suits, especially for Holland; it’s a perfect blend of what we’ve seen from Tobey Maguire’s OG suit and Andrew Garfield’s from The Amazing Spider-Man 2. He’s in the suit for most of the film, and I’m glad they included the detail of seeing through his eye pieces.
The emotional weight of Brand New Day rests on how we viewed Peter and MJ’s relationship, and I liked how they handled it. Wiping their memories was a difficult sacrifice, and one reason the best Spider-Man movies are remembered fondly is that you care when he suffers, whether he’s in the suit or not. The scenes with Holland and Zendaya translate so well on-screen that you understand why they’re a respected couple in real life. The latter half has him in his Spider-Man suit, and MJ doesn’t know who’s wearing the mask. You desperately want her to remember who he is, but deep down she has no clue. One scene, in particular, gotta break your heart. It reminded me a lot of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, between Peter and Gamora, where he’s still in love with a version of Gamora that’s gone.
The inclusion of Frank Castle/The Punisher (Jon Bernthal) had me scratching my head when they announced he’d be fighting alongside Spidey, because I didn’t know how a vigilante like him would fit into a PG-13 film. His appearance won’t let parents watch his series or this year’s lukewarm Disney+ special. Still, a mostly toned-down Punisher finds some levity in his chemistry with Holland, creating an unlikely dynamic as they take down criminals and mostly respect each other. And honestly, it makes more sense here than Jason Momoa’s Lobo in Supergirl. I said the same about Mark Ruffalo’s return as Bruce Banner, who now teaches physics at Empire State University and suppresses his anger with an inhibitor device. Ruffalo doesn’t have a huge role as the marketing led us to believe, but trust me, once he turns into the green-raging Hulk, it made for one of the best sequences in the film, marking it as a moment fans of the character have been waiting to see after nearly ten years, especially those who wanted more than Professor Hulk.
Brand New Day is arguably the best-looking MCU Spider-Man film, primarily due to the color grading and Brett Pawlak’s cinematography. And that’s not a slight on the other films, because it’s annoying to hear how older MCU movies all tend to have the same look; this film clearly distinguishes itself from their recent releases. It was surprising that the movie wasn’t filmed in IMAX, given that The Odyssey dominated theaters for months, yet it still filled the screen beautifully. The film features some of the best Spider-Man swinging sequences to date, perfectly capturing the immersive sensation of flying through the streets. The action sequences also demonstrate Destin Daniel Cretton’s mastery of the craft, building on Shang-Chi‘s success. While the Hulk sequence was a highlight, the third-act climax between Spider-Man and The Hand was particularly impressive, echoing the PS4 game’s style that fans will surely recognize.
SPOILER: Sadie Sink’s announcement to the cast kept the former Stranger Things star’s role a secret. Rumors had been circulating since the first trailer dropped in the spring, so it wasn’t a shock to learn she is playing Jean Grey, the mutant best known from the X-Men franchise. I wasn’t sure how to feel upon my first viewing, but the more I reflected on it and rewatched the film, the more her character’s motivations resonated with me. Her ability to inhabit, or hop into, people’s minds was a creative choice, and the first half of the film did an excellent job maintaining mystery while distinguishing her origin story from previous adaptations. Her inclusion left me wondering how long mutants have existed in this universe, and I’m curious to see whether the upcoming X-Men reboot establishes a definitive connection.
Some things kept it from being a perfect MCU movie. This one’s probably a nitpick, but since they never addressed Peter having a job, how does he afford his rent and the tech he’s working on? I remember that at the end of the last one, he probably had to earn his GED, since this high school existence is erased. That might explain why he’s eating Little Caesars when New York has better pizza options. And there’s not much to care for with Tramell Tillman’s character, Bill Metzger, and anything involving the Department of Damage Control that could’ve had a better resolution. I also didn’t care for the post-credit scene, which is probably setting up something for the character in the future, but it did nothing for me.
This is what Spider-Man fans needed, especially after Sony’s failed attempts to make solo, villain-focused movies that got progressively worse. Instead of taking on another world-threatening situation and focusing on a character-driven story with personal stakes, it shows the MCU has more to give us. In the months since its release, we all knew it would be a hit this past summer. But with a record-breaking opening weekend ($360 million) and a win over heavy titles, becoming the highest-grossing film to date ($958 million domestic/$2.5 billion worldwide), I can’t say I’m surprised, yet how could I not be for a popular IP like Spider-Man? I’m excited to see what’s next if a fifth movie gets announced, but I’m not sure whether Cretton would helm another one or go off and make something else. Time may tell.
Overall, Spider-Man: Brand New Day provides one of the most refreshing takes on the character we have seen in a long time. While it may not be my favorite MCU entry for him, it gets many things right for a live-action Spidey film. Solid action and compelling work from Tom Holland make the experience truly worthwhile.
