Despite being called Brand New Day, there's very little that's brand new in Tom Holland's fourth Spider-Man movie. But hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
At the end of 2001's No Way Home, Doctor Strange cast a spell causing everyone who knew Peter Parker to forget him. It worked, and Peter's been isolating ever since, though he still serves as your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. He's been living vicariously through Ned and MJ's Instagram, which is an effective and timely touch. With no friends to speak of and his Aunt May deceased, he throws himself into his work. He refuses to rest or seek any human connection. Unsurprisingly, that wreaks havoc on his body. His powers are evolving – or... wait for it... mutating – making him powerful but less in control.
He's also facing a new foe, one he can't see but can sense. But even revealing the name of this character played by Sadie Sink likely counts as a spoiler. So I'll just say she does a fine job, and her character is well-integrated into the story without bogging the audience down with lore. Jon Bernthal's Punisher, previously only seen on TV, also fits in nicely. Unlike, say, Lobo, his scenes don't feel grafted on. (The same can't be said for another familiar face, who pops up to offer advice to Spidey.)
Speaking of TV, Trammel Tillman (Severance) and Liza Colón-Zayas (The Bear) play higher ups at Damage Control, a sort of police force for the superpowered. But the former's part is much meatier than the latter's. I'm all for these great actors getting higher profile gigs and bigger paychecks, but they both deserve roles that match their talents.
Even with all the old and new characters, the film is just as propulsive as the last three, with enough humor, emotion, and silly comic book flourishes to keep any one aspect from overpowering the others. But its last act could have used a little more work. Perhaps this was inevitable, but given the casting of Sink, the climax feels awfully reminiscent of Stranger Things. And after a dramatic high note, the film kind of yada-yadas the aftermath.
Still, the film soars in its quiet moments, which is a rarity for the MCU. Peter having a heart-to-heart with MJ, building Legos with Ned, or putting flowers on May's grave all strike the right tone. And while many action scenes are awash in CGI, the big showdown with the Hand is the best fight in a Marvel movie in a long time.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day doesn't really represent a bold new direction for Tom Holland's Spider-Man or the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But if they remain this consistent, there's no need to evolve.
