Spider-Man: Brand New Day - Review

Rating: 5 out of 5

TOM Holland’s outstanding run as Spider-Man shows no sign of fatigue or quality drop-off as Brand New Day - his fourth solo outing, and seventh if you count the Avengers appearances - arrives as another brilliant entry into the MCU franchise.

Four years after No Way Home, and with a new director in Destin Daniel Cretton (of Wonder Man, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings fame), this latest offering combines some genuinely thrilling and utterly pulse pounding action with the surprises, twists and emotional complexity that we have long come to expect from these movies.

As this film picks up, Peter Parker (aka Spider-Man) is still living with the consequences of his decision, at the end of No Way Home, to ask Dr Strange to erase everyone’s knowledge that he is, in fact, Spider-Man - and most notably, the two people he loves the most: best friend Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon) and the love of his life, MJ (Zendaya).

Yet the pain he is masking from this decision - and having to watch MJ, especially, forge a new life from the sidelines - as well as his continued grief and guilt over the death of his beloved Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) is beginning to have a profound effect on his superpowers.

His own genes appear to be mutating and are beginning to have an adverse effect on both his skills and his temperament.

As Peter battles to understand this new challenge, he’s also confronted with a tricky new nemesis in the form of a mystery woman (Stranger Things luminary Sadie Sink), who can possess the bodies of almost anyone around her (excluding Peter) and body jump.

She seems to be targeting the mysterious department of Damage Control, run by Bill Metzger (Tramell Tillman), and likes to use other villains to help her - including the villainous Scorpion (Michael Mando) and even some of Spider-Man’s allies.

But her motives remain unclear and Peter eventually teams up with The Punisher/Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) and Bruce Banner/The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) for extra help.

Given the multitude of storylines and characters, it’s all the more impressive that Brand New Day works as well as it does on every level (something that not all past movies can claim). But Cretton proves highly adept at juggling the demands of such a juggernaut of a movie.

The set pieces are stunning - displaying both visual ingenuity in the way it brings you closer to the action without necessarily feeling like a computer game (some of which it admits it has simulated) - and delivering on the crowd-pleasing and fan baiting moments. Hence, an early chase involving an armoured tank (actually shot through the streets of Glasgow) sets the tone with its audacious blend of aerial action, on the ground mayhem and interplay between various key characters (Holland and Bernthal establish their impressive chemistry straight away).

But from there on in, things only continue to get better. There’s a thrilling fight with Scorpion, a breathless high stakes confrontation between Spidey, The Punisher and Hulk (with added interventions from Sink’s character) and a climax involving most of the key protagonists and the martial arts group known as The Hand (allowing Cretton to display some really cool visual flourishes).

I can imagine Spidey nerds whooping with delight at some of the set pieces (I was on the inside), while admiring the reveals and the way in which Cretton sets up future possibilities without compromising on the standalone elements of this particular story.

And this is arguably what makes Brand New Day truly great - its ability to work on that emotional level. This doesn’t just feel satisfied with over-sized action befitting of the big screen; it tugs at the heart-strings too, tapping into dark themes, emotional complexity and delivering and enhancing a set of characters you actually enjoy being around (and care about).

Underpinning this is Peter’s relationship with MJ - now vastly different by virtue of Strange’s spell, but suitably nuanced in the way it unfolds.

It’s clear the depth of feeling that Parker continues to have for MJ - but even as he draws back closer to her and starts to reveal the truth, things don’t go as planned. The morality of Peter’s decision - both in terms of implication and removal of her choice - is intelligently explored and gives rise to some really powerful and moving scenes between the two actors (and real life husband and wife).

Holland does some of his best work here, clearly enjoying having grown into the role, but also being allowed the room to explore the character’s deepening maturity. But Zendaya is his equal - her feisty MJ no mere love interest in waiting, but a flesh and blood character capable of questioning motives, while also sharing in the emotional confusion that emerges from the fallout of Parker’s revelations.

There’s great work from Bernthal, too, as an altogether more softer Punisher (which might make some fans annoyed), but someone who doesn’t compromise on the hurt that’s ingrained in his character. His performance fits the tone of this movie perfectly but also comes with its own complexity, especially since Castle and Parker mirror each other in many ways: both slaves to their alter-egoes, yet playing their roles very differently; one driven by violence, the other by a responsibility to be kind and compassionate. They represent two sides of the same coin given the cost (and loss) that has come to both of them.

The last shot of Bernthal really stepping out of character and coming over all goofy may grate with some fans; but it is laced with tragedy in that, for me, it offers a rare glimpse of the father that Castle once was. It’s beautifully played and ends the movie on a deservedly optimistic and good natured note. For this is what the Spider-Man character has always embodied: that sense of hope amidst the darkness.

Kudos, too, for notable work from Batalon, as the always endearing Ned, and to Ruffalo, for combining the delivery of his nerdy science stuff with some nuance during his scenes as Hulk (engulfed by the required rage yet equally devastated at his own failure to contain his power). These rate among the film’s most dynamic, with one slow-mo shot involving Spidey, Castle and Hulk an absolute mind-blower.

Finally, we have to mention Sink (cue, some spoilers ahead) as the mystery ‘villain’. Her reveal will undoubtedly excite people for what lies ahead but her performance here is suitably enticing and - as with a number of other Marvel ‘villains’ - laced with even more complexity.

Her motives, once clear, create room for sympathy and understanding - and she plays the arc of her character superbly - tapping into both her torment and her undeniable power as well as the moral Grey area in which she finds herself. Her scenes with Holland are also great - and again imbued with an emotional edge that isn’t afraid to draw your tears.

There are other surprise appearances along the way in a film that consistently delivers on all that it promises, while arguably delivering a little more.

Could this be the strongest Holland entry yet? Maybe. I still think Homecoming was a blast as his first solo outing, complete with a doozy of a twist (the only time a roomful of critics applauded something mid-film). But this one really does deliver in spades.

There were several moments when I was already beginning to look forward to seeing it again.

Brand New Day is a tour-de-force. A five-star experience. And something to be genuinely amazed by. I loved every single minute of it.

Certificate: 12A

Running time: 2hrs 25mins