Technically, Spider-Man Brand New Day is a restart of sorts where Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is debating if he should reconnect with what’s lost following the events of the last film. He knows he should move on, but when MJ (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Batalon) aren’t there and he longs to reconnect, to watch from afar is genuinely creepy!
When he’s not looking in on their lives, he’s affecting others, mostly random New Yorkers getting mugged or some brand new villain. After dealing with Scorpion and Hammerhead, I think the rogue’s gallery is getting thinned out! But when there’s a new player he can’t figure out, that’s when things go from bad to worse.
As the trailers have teased, it seems Parker is losing control. His arachnid DNA is asserting itself and early speculation hinted at him becoming the man-spider. It’s an arc I loved from the comics and animated series, and that can still happen. But as for when, that’s hard to say.
Making a live-action film takes up to two or three years; in animation, where the story has been told during the 90s animated series run, his “mutant” run was short-lived, and with this latest take, there may be other consequences. From the same said series, Petey had anger management issues because of it. And perhaps that’s why we see this lad go find Doctor Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), and get his advice.
Although I wasn’t sure if this direction was a red herring or not, to have Hulk back was a treat. What’s implied with this Avengers-light crossover is that there’s a deeper tale going on. Here, Banner is able to control the beast with a device, and Pete aims to replicate that. Otherwise, he’ll lose control.
But as for MJ and Ned, that subplot weaves in and out faster than the webhead can spin webs! There’s a slight reason for their continued presence, but if this series is to mirror the current direction of the comics, it’s better off to give Zendaya her own series rather than flirt with disaster.
After The Odyssey, where she and Tom were never seen together (for good reason), this one puts them closer than ever before, like they are meant to be. And that is never good. While the hero knows it’s best not to have too many attachments, his feelings have to be put on mute, and that’s where this movie written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers shines.
Helming this film is Destin Daniel Cretton, and it seems he’s learned what works and what doesn’t since Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. This prior entry did not resonate with me. But for Spidey and his friends, he didn’t have to direct the core trio too much since they were mostly apart and had an established routine he can tap into when they all had a scene together.
Also, Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle / Punisher is a riot! It seems making a PG-13 version of him made this character more palatable for the masses, and the humour instilled as accidental comic relief helps more than it hinders. It’s not to say I want a tough-as-nails Wolverine wannabe who dishes out the hurt, but someone had to be a counterpoint to the alleged villain of this film. I won’t spoil this detail, but once again, the misdirection is just that, and it turns out another agency has gone corrupt, and what this film foreshadows for the MCU at large is firmly in place.
Now my big question: does that mean Disney/Marvel Entertainment has the deep pockets to get Spider-Man back into their management circle proper? I really hope not. When considering the news about Warner Bros and Paramount merging and how some IPs are being circled by vultures, it’s tough to say. Sony Pictures is independent from Sony Media, so there’s no rampant speculation on the future of the Spider since right now, everyone is at arm’s length over who’s truly steering the ship.
Hint, it’s Amy Pascal, and she’s doing a better job at managing things so not every film is a “Make Mine Marvel” product. They can influence, but never tell past talents what to do. Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2 is the best movie out of them all, and Brand New Day is a close second, if not third.
That said, this latest is a great continuation of the franchise, with Tom Holland making this year of the spider be just that. With two standout films to show how he’s matured into a man rather than a whiny teen, say it all. New York City loves him, and that’s all we need to know.
5 Stars out of 5
Spider-Man Brand New Day Final Trailer
