For nearly 10 years, Tom Holland has played the winsome Peter Parker and his crime-fighting, web-slinging alter-ego, Spider-Man.
In his many adventures, he’s joined by his loyal and brainy pals, best friend Ned and girlfriend MJ. Alongside various characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they team up to fight evildoers on the streets of New York City and beyond. In this fourth new film, as in the previous three, there’s familiar elements to the superhero’s story: mystery, humor, a touch of romance and a whole lot of arachnid-centered action. But with a formula this fun, why break the mold?
For those who might need a refresher, viewers last saw Peter Parker in 2021’s “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” His Avenger buddy Doctor Strange cast a spell to make people forget Parker is Spider-Man, but the magic goes awry, bringing two other Spider-Mans and their various nemeses from the multiverse into his world. As Parker works with the other Spider-Men to cure, rather than crush, the mutated villains, his beloved Aunt May gets caught in the crossfire and dies. Then, the spell that rights the multiverse ultimately makes Ned, played by Jacob Batalon, and MJ, played by Zendaya (Holland’s real-life wife), forget they ever knew him. He plans to find his old friends and tell them about their forgotten, shared past. But in the end, Parker lets them go off to their dream college without him.
In “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, Parker has become a lone wolf spider. The man in the red and blue spider suit lives by himself, stalks his old friends on social media and grieves the loss of his aunt. His only friend is a detective who works with him to rid the city of crime, and maybe the AI support bot who fixes his gadgets. His love of the job and his supply of endlessly useful spiderwebs keep the bad guys at bay until a mysterious, body-hopping enemy arrives. Parker works to uncover the supervillain’s plot and protect his friends while battling his overpowering spidey senses. A few other Marvel characters pop in, including Bruce Banner, aka the Hulk, played by Mark Ruffalo. Despite his rough exterior, a gruff vigilante named Frank Castle, aka the Punisher, played by Jon Bernthal, is an endearing addition to the gang.
The film is rated PG-13 for sequences of action/violence and some language. For mature teens and adults, the newest Spider-Man is an entertaining watch. Peter is self-sacrificing and devoted to his friends, dedicated to protecting the innocent and eager to reform rather than merely stop the bad guys. And the variety of bad guys, from a group of martial artists known as the Hand to the wily-tailed Scorpion, put on quite a show. Ned and MJ make the heart of the film not just the titular superhero but the trio as a whole, providing a timeless reminder about the necessity of community and the joy of camaraderie. The movie also pays homage to life in the Big Apple, featuring its crowded city sidewalks, homey corner stores and skyline views.
Tom Holland plays the part of the earnest, kind-hearted, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man to a tee. And after several films, the 30-year-old may be aging out of the role. If it is the end, he and the gang certainly end the story on a heartwarming upswing.
Maraist is a freelancer from Reston.
