Spider-Man: Brand New Day remains light and fun, despite Marvel bloat
Sony Pictures
When Marvel first unveiled its cinematic universe strategy in the wake of Iron Man’s success, it seemed like a novel idea (or at least it did to me, a nerd who didn’t yet feel overserved by big studio blockbusters): Release movies the way they published books, with character-centric films culminating in a crossover event. At the time, it felt like a promise to deliver movies that encompassed the scope of stories you actually get in comics, not just superhero smackdowns
Unfortunately, most of what’s come since ignores creative storylines for bankable blockbusters. The projects attempting a smaller, more personal approach have a spotty success record, partly due to the studio’s lack of confidence in those properties or the filmmakers making them. Instead of more movies like Nia DaCosta’s The Marvels, we get Joe and Anthony Russo circling the same “giant boss battle” model in movies like the forthcoming Avengers: Doomsday.
Destin Daniel Cretton’s success in the MCU as a director, writer, and producer stands in contrast to this pattern. With his Wonder Man series, Cretton proved it’s possible to make grounded superhero stories that feel true to the genre (and the often-experimental nature of comics) while keeping superpowers front-and-center. Cretton excels at character-driven stories and unlikely teamups that reflect the kinds of comics storylines that often rank among fans’ favorites.
While the Cretton-directed Spider-Man: Brand New Day still feels overstuffed, it remains fun to watch because of that interest in character dynamics. Brand New Day is ultimately an odd couple team-up in which Tom Holland’s heartbroken, isolated Peter Parker re-learns the value of a good support system with help from (of all people) Jon Bernthal’s Punisher.
Following the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Peter mourns the death of his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) and his memory-wiped love MJ (Zendaya) and best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon). Peter pushes down his feelings by pouring himself into superhero work. This becomes a problem when he encounters a dangerous entity that takes over other people’s minds at the same time his spider-powers start to change how they manifest.
Peter’s determination to track down the source of the entity brings him back into MJ and Ned’s orbit, as well as into a tentative partnership with The Punisher, Frank Castle. Frank serves as an example to Peter of where Peter’s new hyperfocused tendencies might take him if he’s not careful. Peter’s reconnection with MJ and Ned reminds him of the worthy risks and uncontrollable outcomes that accompany his job. A shady alliance with the emerging Department of Damage Control provides a lesson in trust.
Sony Pictures
Brand New Day is strongest when Peter is interacting with Frank, MJ, or Ned, or Detective Jean DeWolff (Liza Colón-Zayas), his concerned contact at the NYPD. In particular, Holland’s youthful energy and optimism bump up entertainingly against Bernthal’s grumpy, well-armed vigilante. When the characters’ spheres do overlap, it’s in unexpected, funny ways (for instance, Frank uses the same tools to make bombs that Peter uses to build helpful tech).
Unfortunately, Brand New Day’s many subplots, though thematically connected, feel like tangents. All of the places the film wants to go are worthy, and its many smaller cameos also help this outing feel closer to its comic book origins, but the result lacks focus. It would be better suited to a series format, giving each of these elements more breathing room. As it is, the pacing often feels rushed, and some newer supporting characters don’t get the development they need.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day retains the energy and humor that have made the Holland-starring Spider-Man movies stand (somewhat) apart from the rest of the bloated MCU.
This corner of the Marvel stable proves to be a good match for Cretton’s strengths as a Marvel director. The movie ultimately succumbs to the same faults that have plagued almost every other Marvel movie, but the ways it succeeds outweigh the parts that drag it down. If nothing else, it’s another case for making room in the Marvel films for smaller stories with stakes that don’t involve the fate of the known universe.
