Ticketworthy - Spider-Man: Brand New Day

The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s version of Spider-Man has always suffered from one glaring issue, namely that he always seems to be an extension of other heroes. Initially it was Iron Man whose shadow he lived in, a tough task for any character. Then it was Doctor Strange and the other Spider-Men in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Tom Holland’s Peter Parker has never felt like his own standalone superhero. Until now, that is. Spider-Man: Brand New Day is exactly what its title suggests, a fresh start for the character and a chance to carry his franchise alone for once. Sure, other important characters show up and there’s definitely some larger implications for the MCU in the story, but at its core this is a Spider-Man movie. I’m happy to say that everyone’s favorite web-head absolutely lives up to the challenge.

Four years after everyone forgot who he was in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) now lives alone and operates as a full-time superhero. All the while, he has to watch his friends live their lives without him, unaware that he even exists. The loneliness begins to take a toll on Peter, and he starts experiencing new mutations in his DNA, resulting in new, out of control powers. At the same time a new threat emerges in New York unlike anything he’s ever dealt with before. Peter has to find a way to get his new powers under control in time to save the city from an enemy that he can’t even see.

While there are certainly nods to the wider MCU universe in the film, it is nice to see the plot so focused on street-level, Spider-Man specific issues. This is the perfect example of a problem that never has me wondering where the Avengers are and why they aren’t helping. It’s got high enough stakes to make it thrilling, but not so high that it doesn’t make sense why Spider-Man is taking care of it mostly alone. Neither of the last two movies in the series managed that.

The other major hero who shows up, The Punisher, a.k.a. Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal), is there to support Peter rather than take over for him. That said, Bernthal might well be the best part of the movie. He never makes himself distractingly important in the story, but he absolutely steals every scene he’s in. The dynamic between Peter and Frank is arguably the best aspect of the movie, as their clashing philosophies and styles lead to some hilarious bantering and heartwarming moments. I didn’t know I needed a Spider-Man/Punisher team-up, but I’m glad we have it.

Sadie Sink, in the villain role which the movie tries poorly to conceal, is equally fantastic. I can’t give too many details about her performance without spoiling her big reveal but suffice to say that she plays a very nuanced character and plays her well. She also has great chemistry with Holland and has the acting chops to dominate most of her scenes. Near the end of the film, when she gets her chance to really shine, she brings a rawness that works brilliantly. This isn’t some unrelatable, evil supervillain bent on world destruction. It’s a real person channeling real pain into real rage. Sink nails every aspect of the character. I cannot wait to see more of her.

As a matter of fact, I’d actually argue that Sink’s character is so good and the plotline around her is so well done that it made the part of the plot about Peter’s mutating powers seem unnecessary. It’s interesting enough, and I understand that it’s meant to represent him losing the “Peter” side of himself as he dives fully into the “Spider” side, but I honestly just cared less about it than I did the other storyline. It just felt pointless and boring in an otherwise very fun movie.

Thankfully, there’s plenty to distract from the weaker parts of the plot. Spider-Man movies always feel like they have a bit of a cheat code when it comes to cinematography because the character is so agile and mobile that any scene of him doing something is a blast to watch. It’s no different this time. From the web-swinging through the city to the acrobatic fight scenes, the whole film is just a visual treat. Most of the visual effects are good, even if there are a few moments of CGI that don’t look amazing. The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) makes a brief appearance and I’m not sure this is the best he’s ever looked. For the most part, though, I can’t complain about the visuals.

All in all, there’s simply no denying that way more works in Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s favor than against it. This is exactly the movie that the character needed and is a welcome change of pace from how the MCU has used him thus far. I know that Marvel doesn’t exactly have the same sterling reputation that it once enjoyed, but if your Spidey-senses have been tingling that this one might be worth catching on the big screen, I recommend you listen to them.