Joey Magidson
After losing everyone he cares about in order to protect them, where do we find Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Brand New Day? Well, we find him where he left him, which is committed to being a full time Spider-Man. The story of this fourth solo adventure, however, is just as considered with Peter as it is with Spidey. On his own and very much struggling with things, this Marvel Cinematic Universe outing feels the most like a Spider-Man comic story, in almost all of the right ways. Are there building blocks for future outings in the MCU? Yes, both for the webslinger and also for the larger universe, but at its core, this is about following our hero on the evolution of his journey. I found it fully engaging, occasionally surprising, and resoundingly effective. Go figure, maybe the problem isn’t superhero movies on the whole? Perhaps it just comes down to making a good one, which this certainly is…
Spider-Man: Brand New Day does a very good job investing you in Peter’s story, which is at its most dramatic arc to date. There are other Marvel characters playing in this sandbox as well, and the story integrates them well, but at its core, this is an exploration of who Peter Parker is, who he might become, and what it means to actually be Spider-Man, without the support system he once drew such strength from. Putting the flick on a ground level is a strong choice that pays dividends, especially when the antagonistic threat appears to be a much more supernatural one than he’s used to facing off with.
Taking place after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is living in the aftermath of the world forgetting that he’s Spider-Man. He’s now devoted his life to protecting New York City as a full-time superhero, though he also keeps tabs on what MJ (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Batalon) are up to. However, as the demands on him as Spidey intensify, the pressure begins to spark a new physical evolution within him. Searching for answers, he seeks out Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), who’s had success in crafting an inhibitor to keep him from becoming The Hulk. He’s going to need help, too, as an unusual crime wave foretells emergence of one of the most powerful threats he, or anyone, has ever faced.
The threat is in the form of a mysterious figure (Sadie Sink) with the ability to possess people. To say more about who and what this person is would constitute a major spoiler, but they’re pivotal to what comes next. Whether it’s a sympathetic cop (Liza Colón-Zayas), the director of Damage Control (Tramell Tillman), or even Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal), Peter/Spidey is going to need everyone’s help in order to figure this out. However, once he does, things are only just beginning for him, especially as his evolution threatens to make him more spider than man.
Tom Holland gives one of his best performances to date, and his best performance in this role, without question. He gets to really evolve both Peter and Spider-Man in ways that will be familiar to comic book fans but represent something new for his time in the MCU. Holland has always been a perfect fit for this role, and he’s only gotten better as time goes on, but this is a legitimately excellent turn, Marvel or not. He gives the pain and reward of being Spider-Man, all while never losing sight of what makes Peter Parker such a longstanding character worth caring about. It’s almost impossible to talk about Sadie Sink and her performance without getting into spoilers, but it turns out to be a tougher role than expected, one she really nails. It’s impressive work from Sink. Jon Bernthal has a bigger role than initially expected and fits The Punisher in nicely alongside Spidey, while Mark Ruffalo gets to have essentially an extended cameo. Zendaya and Jacob Batalon are incredibly comfortable in their roles by now, though they’re both able to show the growth of their characters over the ensuing years. Both get lovely moments with Holland, especially towards the back half of the film, when their paths have crossed more directly. A scene involving the three of them brought a big smile to my face. In addition to the aforementioned Liza Colón-Zayas and Tramell Tillman, supporting players here include Eman Esfandi, Marvin Jones III, and Michael Mando, as well as some a cameo or two I’d dare not reveal.
Director Destin Daniel Cretton steps in for Jon Watts here and gives things a real distinctive visual palate. The screenplay from Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers is on point with the previous installments in the franchise, and it feels very much like the next adventure, but there’s a ground level feel to things this time around. I have no doubt that Watts would have been able to make Spider-Man: Brand New Day a worthy fourth film in their series, but Cretton gives this a unique look. The movie lets us see Spider-Man doing acrobatic action like never before, while there’s a ground level look and even grit at times that makes a difference. Even the end credits have a totally different style. McKenna and Sommers lean into the emotions, and while this isn’t a tear jerker, it has the least amount of jokes yet. It’s still fun and even very funny at times, but they’re mining more serious material than previously.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day really surprised me. The way it’s closer to a film and trying to do something more like a Black Panther than merely a Spider-Man sequel is notable. Is it on the level of a Black Panther? No. It’s arguably, however, the second best Spider-Man movie in the MCU, depending on your ranking. I’ll share mine in a few days, but anyone worried that Marvel wouldn’t be able to right the ship with their most consistently successful character can rest easy. This flick is very good and really well done, truly representing a brand new day for the wallcrawler.
SCORE: ★★★1/2
Comments
Loading…