Review: ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ – Tom Holland’s ‘Mature’ Yet Exhausting Return Tries Too Hard Despite Solid Action
According to CinemaDrame News Agency, film critic Eleanor Wright writes in an exclusive review that movie superheroes are usually desperate for company; they form leagues, alliances, and dynamic duos, boasting adoring fans in every corner of the city. But in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Peter Parker (played by Tom Holland) has transformed into a workaholic, driven, yet deeply isolated and lonely crime-fighter. We see him snaring a group of villains in his precise webs before retreating to his rundown New York attic, living like a recluse surrounded by monitors.
Yet, this is a lonely crusade. Peter—no longer a high schooler or a college applicant (Tom Holland, now 30, has grown into a far more confident actor)—relentlessly watches social media videos of the love of his life, MJ (Zendaya), and his best friend, Ned (Jacob Batalon), both of whom had all their memories of him erased at the end of No Way Home.
Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton—the indie filmmaker who joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Shang-Chi—Brand New Day occasionally feels like a contemplative drama. It is evident how hard Cretton tried to craft a thoughtful, human, and “mature” film; however, when a director’s effort to reach those lofty goals becomes this palpable, it ultimately diminishes the movie’s impact.
The film features spectacular, dizzying action sequences (including an extended battle scene alongside Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk), sharp humor courtesy of Jon Bernthal’s Punisher, and a complex villain. Yet at the same time, it feels exhausting, overly episodic, and roughly half an hour longer than it needs to be.
Part of the film’s struggle stems from the “amnesia” plot line. Peter’s encounters with MJ, who views him as a total stranger down on his luck, are initially painful and compelling (especially given Tom Holland and Zendaya’s real-life marriage this year), but over time, the premise turns into an exhausting question mark. Similarly, the idea that Peter’s powers are glitching due to a high concentration of spider DNA—introduced by screenwriters Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, and Justin Kuritzkes—is swiftly resolved with a metallic neck device, depriving the plot point of any meaningful payoff.
As for the film’s antagonist (played by Sadie Sink), we are presented with a villain possessing noble and empathetic motives; however, the climax—which devolves into a collective expression of affection—severely undercuts the story’s dramatic stakes.
Ultimately, Spider-Man: Brand New Day remains a watchable entry with powerful action sequences that stands a high chance of dominating the box office. Yet, despite its efforts to distance itself from multiverse clichés, it never quite ascends to becoming a truly memorable or spectacular film.
