The Peter Problem

What makes Spider-Man the greatest superhero of all-time isn’t his ability to swing through New York City on sticky webs shot from his wrists, nor is it how he protects humanity from villains like Green Goblin and The Vulture. I mean, those feats are certainly impressive, but what makes Spider-Man the absolute best is his secret identity: Peter Parker. As heroic and fearless as Spider-Man is, Peter Parker is the one who sacrifices everything for his friends, for his city, the universe and complete strangers.

It’s wild to realize that Tom Holland has now been Spider-Man for a decade. He has logged more appearances as the character than anyone else at this point, and with “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” it feels like he has settled into the character more than any of his predecessors. While I love Tobey Maguire’s awkward Peter Parker and grew to respect Andrew Garfield’s wise-cracking Spider-Man, Holland perfectly embodies both sides of the hero. He was cast young enough to pull off playing the friendly neighborhood high schooler and now that Holland is 30, we get to watch an adult Peter Parker struggle through life in the ways only he can.

Director Destin Daniel Cretton and writers Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers understand a key truth about Spidey that makes “Brand New Day” arguably the most complete and satisfying Spider-Man movie since Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man 2” in 2004: whatever triumphs Spider-Man achieves, the exact inverse must happen to Peter Parker. He possesses the classic “Parker Luck” that always comes back around to ruin his personal life. There’s an arc in the comics from a few years ago where Peter Parker becomes a billionaire tech mogul, only to lose his company and every single dime within a year or two. Parker can’t catch a break, but he never gives up. He wouldn’t even know how. That’s why we love him.

I want to avoid most plot details because experiencing the film’s twists and turns blindly is an absolute joy. When we last saw Peter, the world had discovered his identity, forcing him to have Doctor Strange cast a spell to forget him. As a result, his girlfriend MJ (Zendaya, bringing so much life to the character) and best friend Ned (a joyful Jacob Batalon) have no idea who he is. For the first time, a hero who draws his strength from his loved ones is completely alone.

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” isn’t built around an unstoppable new villain or a bloated CGI spectacle designed to set up five future Marvel Cinematic Universe projects. While a little bit of that corporate DNA exists, the filmmakers would much rather place you inside Peter’s head and behind his mask to understand his isolation, his sadness and his humanity. The Marvel machine has produced its most grounded film in years, injecting the personal stakes this forever franchise has lacked since 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame.”

As the 38th film in the MCU, “Brand New Day” is one of its absolute best. It’s a clear sign that Marvel still has plenty of gas in the tank when it prioritizes character and grounded emotion. Granted, I’m not as cynical about the franchise as most critics; I didn’t love “Fantastic Four” as much as I’d hoped, but “The Thunderbolts,” “Deadpool & Wolverine” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” were all deeply resonant for me.

If you are currently suffering from Superhero Movie Fatigue™, “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” might not entirely cure you, but its artful, thoughtful craftsmanship proves that our favorite heroes can mature alongside us.

Cretton has done something remarkable by scaling things back from the maximalist, multiversal sensory overload of “No Way Home.” He pulls Peter Parker out of Tony Stark’s suffocating orbit, giving him an isolated and deeply touching heartbeat.

For the first time in the MCU, New York feels like a tangible, living city rather than a succession of green screens and backlots. There’s a tactile texture to the streets, making NYC feel like a true character, just as she does in the comics.

The film isn’t flawless — it features a few too many characters and can feel overstuffed at points — but it got me hyped for December’s “Avengers: Doomsday” in a way I didn’t think possible. It made me want to see where all of this world-building is headed and left me wondering if the MCU can recreate the transporting magic of “Infinity War” and “Endgame.”

When the credits rolled and the lights came up, I didn’t feel the usual blockbuster exhaustion I’ve been getting lately. Instead, a bittersweet, emotional resonance reconnected me to this cinematic universe again. But what’s even more impressive is that you do not need to care about the MCU to love this. Even if you think comic book movies are for wee babies, “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” transcends any genre limitations to stand alone as a genuinely great piece of cinema.

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day”
Dir. Destin Daniel Cretton
Grade: A-
Now Playing at Regal Old Mill, McMenamins Old St. Francis, Sisters Movie House, Redmond Cinema, Madras Cinema 5.

Watch the Spider-Man Brand New Day Trailer