Marvel Studios’ Spider-Man: Brand New Day–Film Gang Review

Marvel Studios’ Spider-Man: Brand New Day opened this month and is on track to break box-office records while entertaining summer moviegoers with a solid storyline, relatable subplots, and a more “true to his roots” Peter Parker than the 2021 predecessor, Spider-Man: No Way Home. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, Spider-Man: Brand New Day takes us on a visual and emotional ride. Albeit about 20 minutes too long, clocking in at 2 hours and 25 minutes. Spider-Man, aka Peter Parker, played by Tom Holland, thrills in the opening cityscape scenes as he fights off bank robbers, thugs, and thieves. Parker’s anonymous, good-guy hero is beloved by local citizens and police officers alike as he rescues children, damsels in distress, and averts catastrophes. But beneath the superhero spectacle is a much more personal story. No one remembers Peter Parker because of a pact he made to erase himself from the memories of those he loved so he could save the world from catastrophe. That includes his ex-girlfriend, MJ (Zendaya), and former best friend, Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon). The plot soon thickens as Parker faces a powerful new threat: individuals are becoming telepathically possessed. The entity hops from person to person, causing confusion and carnage. At the same time, Parker’s superpowers are misfiring and malfunctioning, sending him on a quest to crack the codes of specific DNA technology that could remedy his situation. His malfunctioning powers also work as a metaphor. Peter has spent so much time sacrificing himself for others that he is beginning to lose control of his own identity. His body is failing him just as he tries to figure out who he is without the people who once defined his life. He seeks undercover counsel from Professor Bruce Banner, played by Mark Ruffalo, who reprises his role as the Hulk. Parker also meets Bill Metzger (Tramell Tillman), head of the Department of Damage Control, which oversees superpowered individuals and advanced technology. Metzger’s role becomes pivotal in controlling and monitoring mutants like Jean Grey (Sadie Sink). Parker’s quest to regain control over his body and his life also brings him into contact with familiar Marvel characters, including Hulk, Scorpion (Michael Mando), and, of course, the tough but lovable Frank Castle, aka The Punisher (Jon Bernthal), who serves as a surrogate father and protector to Parker and MJ. Holland’s Peter Parker remains one of Marvel’s most relatable heroes. He plays the part like a boy scout, but not so icky-sweet. There’s an earnestness to his performance that makes Peter easy to root for, particularly as he struggles with loneliness and loss. The climax ties many of the loose ends together, with a well-choreographed battle involving the Flying Ninjas and a nail-biting confrontation with the Telepath/Jean Grey and Metzger. After the final fight, Peter escapes his hospital bed and returns to the world as a hero. It’s a fitting ending for a character whose greatest strength has never been his superhuman abilities. It’s his willingness to get back up after being knocked down. Once again, good has conquered evil in the Marvel universe. But perhaps the bigger victory is Peter’s realization that being a hero doesn’t mean giving up every part of yourself. For KSQD’s Film Gang: Susan Lovegren.