FILM REVIEW – Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Tom Holland!

Picture this: you are 32, sitting in a movie theater watching a new Spider-Man film, and you start thinking: “Is this film about me?” That sounds wonderful, right? Sort of. Right after I thought that, Marvel had to include a scene explaining what might happen next in its own timeline. That sort of back-and-forth is what brings us to a more subdued landing than maybe intended in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Director Destin Daniel Cretton takes the helm from Jon Watts and
reintroduces us to a Spider-Man we have grown to love while also reminding us why we even love the character in the first place. Tom Holland shows us he is very capable of growing up, but the MCU part of it all has not grown alongside him. What we end up with is a film with fantastic moments that are interrupted by moments that drag it backwards and frustratingly remind us but wait! There could be more!

outside a showing of Spider Man with a bunch of posters

Who Am I?

Peter Parker (Holland) is alone. No one remembers him, and the pain he feels from his former life not remembering him makes him dig deeper into isolation. Meanwhile, in basic Spider-Man fashion, he fights crime on the streets of NYC. He assists the NYPD, specifically Detective Jean DeWolff (love seeing Liza Colón-Zayas in anything). She becomes a mother figure after the passing of his Aunt May, reminding Spidey to take care of himself by connecting with others on a deeper level.

They run into a criminal who seems as though they can jump from one mind to the other. This creates confusion, as Spider-Man can’t just start beating up innocent civilians. Meanwhile, Peter is fighting his own personal battles. One night, he wakes up with powers that are more Spider than Man, wreaking havoc amongst his internal self. To quote Jean Valjean, “Who is this (Spider) man, what sort of (Spider) devil is he? To have me caught in a trap, then choose to let me go free?”

Peter decides to go pay a visit to our good friend Dr. Bruce Banner (who has no idea who Peter is). Peter asks Banner questions about leveling out between human and non-human form. What Banner does not realize is Peter wants to use his answers for other people as well. Banner/Hulk is a nice addition to this film and Mark Ruffalo does a nice job coming back in good form for the MCU.

Meanwhile, Peter sees his former best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon) and love interest MJ (Zendaya) at a post-college party in the city. As Peter is figuring out who he is, the feelings of protecting MJ only increase as well. As he becomes more worried for his own safety, that also increases his love for MJ. This ends up being the best plot of the film. Connecting Peter’s avenue of self-discovery along with figuring out what friendship even looks like to him in this new phase of his life. Understanding that moving on does not necessarily mean you have to let go of the people a previous version of yourself loved so very much.

Then the MCU mechanics kick in. Our antagonist’s motives are revealed, and Peter must save the city! He has some help along the way, because the MCU just cannot be without its cameos.

One Day More

Thinking about the synopsis of the film hurt my head. A film whose central theme of becoming better versions of ourselves shines bright — but it’s bogged down by characters and moments that just do not matter.

A shining thread is the production design. Charles Wood and team have crafted a color and energy of NYC that is really vibrant compared to other Marvel fare. The city becomes an integral part of Peter’s maturing. Having existential crises in the midst of hundreds of people on the street is the NYC Way. Having Peter re-discover moving through the city with his updated powers harkened back to the OG Tobey Spider-Man that started it all. A reminder of why we love this character in the first place.

That moment also includes the work of the entire Stunt team. The choreography of each fight flashed glimpses of martial arts. This is a great style to see play out against the backdrop of NYC. Some really great camerawork during these battles as well. It feels like the MCU Machine gave Cretton more freedom to push away from the flat, CGI-heavy battles for ones more grounded in where they are actually taking place.

Tom Holland is doing great work here. He maintains the charm we expect of his Peter Parker, while also showing his own growing up on the screen. When the movie is focused on him, it shines. Then it becomes about Sadie Sink. Her performance is not bad. The material given to her is weird. The film is not about her until it is, and she can only do so much when her character has only one motivation. It’s a shame — a mind-jumping antagonist searching for a lost sibling is rich enough material for its own arc, but the film never lets her be anything more than a plot device pointed at Peter.

Everyone else is pulling the weight they are tasked to do. No more, no less.

More?

Spider-Man: Brand New Day offers a great argument as to why we should still want to see the titular character swinging in action. It works when it is focused on Peter’s “transformation” into a new version of his own self. That happens very often throughout the film. But just like that opening theater seat epiphany, the MCU can’t help but interrupt itself — dragging us back from Peter’s story to tease a universe that never quite delivers.

Spider-Man more acutely understands his place in the Universe. Unfortunately, the MCU does not. I would definitely be interested in seeing another day with the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. As for the rest of the MCU, I’m starting to enjoy watching its self-inflicted sunset.