- SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY
- Starring: Tom Holland, Zendaya and Jon Bernthal
- Directed by: Destin Daniel Cretton
- Rated: PG 13
- Running time: 2 hrs 25 mins
- SONY Pictures
Our score: 4 out of 5
I’ve always been a Spider-man fan. Even though, as a kid in the 1960s, I was primarily a “DC” guy – I read every Batman and Superman comic book I could find, even enduring issues of “Superman’s Pal – Jimmy Olsen.” But whenever the chance arose, and if I didn’t have to use my allowance to buy it, I would read the latest adventures of Spider-man. While I enjoyed the earlier films that featured Toby Maguire and Andrew Garfield as the webslinger, it wasn’t until Tom Holland came along that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU to save space) hit cinema gold. Through three dedicated films, and numerous appearances in other films in the MCU, Holland’s portrayal of Peter Parker/Spider-man has always been a high point. I’m happy to say that with the latest adventure, “Spider-man: Brand New Day,” that streak continues.
When we last saw Peter Parker (Holland), he had just saved the day at an enormous expense by having Doctor Strange cast a spell that made everyone who knew he was Spider-man forget that fact. This included the love of his life, MJ (Zendaya) and his best friend, Ned (Jacob Batalon). Four years later we find him living alone and dedicating all his time to fighting crime. He keeps an eye on his friends from a distance but can’t bring himself to tell them the truth. But, because this is a superhero film, he has a lot more to worry about.
Like recent MCU films, “Spider-man: Brand New Day” peppers itself with other characters who may or may not be familiar to fans, among them the Punisher (Bernthal), who appears in his own series on Netflix. I’ve never watched the show but, as I am familiar with the character, I knew who he was. Newcomers to the film series may not. The film also gives Mark Ruffalo a spotlight to shine in as Professor Bruce Banner, aka the Hulk. The Banner character is criminally underused in the various “Avengers” films, with filmmakers apparently assuming that people are just there for the “Hulk SMASH!” sequences. But with an actor as good as Ruffalo is, I think audiences would welcome the chance to spend more then a few minutes with the Professor. Though I’m afraid that, as far along in the MCU as the films are they couldn’t do a proper Hulk origin story I do hope we get more of Banner in upcoming films.
Like all of the films in this series, the cast has a genuine chemistry and the emotional ride Peter Parker takes is a rough one. Holland, who is also a major asset in the currently showing “The Odyssey,” continues to grow in the role, just as Peter is growing as a young man. Zendaya is her usual tough but caring self and Batalon’s Ned (probably my favorite character in these films – he is “the man in the chair” – has always been the glue that holds these friendships together. There are also a few new surprises here leading up to December’s big Avengers film “Doomsday.”
On a scale of zero to five, “Spider-man: Brand New Day” receives ★★★★