“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” Isn’t Very New

Spider-Man: Brand New Day doesn’t feel like a typical Marvel Cinematic Universe film.  Nor does it even feel like a typical superhero film, which has mostly been defined by that Marvel Cinematic Universe.  In fact, this doesn’t feel like a film at all.  The newest entry in the Spider-Man franchise feels more like a very long episode of a cartoon than a movie. 

For some, this will mean that it is an entertaining ride, with simple yet effective emotional moments, fun action sequences, and a plot that keeps you guessing.  For others, that will mean that this movie has a shallow plot, unoriginal action sequences, and uninteresting characters.  Like many other movies, this is a bit of a Rorschach test.  Either take is valid, though it definitely appears that the general consensus is more with the former set than the latter. 

When it comes to a superhero movie, the bare minimum one can deliver is on the action sequences.  For the champions of this movie, the action sequences are numerous, complex, and pit Peter Parker against appropriately formidable foes while constantly raising the stakes.  For the detractors of this movie, these action sequences sometimes lack tension and never feel like new material.  There is nothing you can’t find in most other superhero movies when it comes to the fight scenes, which one can interpret as either satisfactory or wanting. 

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is loaded with characters and concepts.  Marvel mainstays beyond Spider-Man litter the film, including Punisher, Hulk, Scorpion, and at least one other character that will not be disclosed.  This means not only are their characters part of the dynamic of this film, but so are their powers.  Then add all the recurring Spider-Man characters like MJ and Ned, combined with several other characters, mostly ambiguous government agents, in addition to the ocean of extras and side characters, and despite the 145-minute runtime, the film still feels densely packed with things to juggle.  The film doesn’t necessarily fall flat on its face doing that juggling, but it does feel like a miracle that it came out in one piece.  In fact, splitting this film into two 90-minute movies might have made more sense. 

Having so many characters brings with it the benefit of having numerous opportunities for diverse representation.  These films already had Zendaya in a major role, but this entry has expanded its African-American representation across the board.  Women play a major role in the film as well, most notably Sadie Sink’s character.  The Asian representation is mostly limited to Jacob Batalon as Ned, but the brief appearance of the Hand ninjas count as well.  Admittedly, having most of your Asian actors playing ninjas without real character feels a little bit like typecasting, but it’s certainly better than nothing.  Even with all the representation, though, for a film set in New York City, it is a bit awkward that most of the characters with the bulk of screentime are white. 

For a superhero film that feels like it was made for families, and especially young boys, having a plot that can be hard to guess (if you haven’t read the comics) was not on my bingo card.  Spider-Man: Brand New Day sets up an antagonist that seems impossible to defeat conventionally, and does at least an okay job of finding a way around that impossibility.  The audience isn’t told who the antagonist is until we’re deep into the plot, and even then, what could serve as an endpoint for the film instead turns into a jumping-off point for the most earnest attempt at depth in the entire runtime.  If you’re asking, is this film appreciably deeper than something like, say, Supergirl? The answer is no, it might even be less so.  But it also contains a script with more twists and turns, such that even if you don’t like it, it will be hard to just fall asleep or leave the theater. 

Should you see Spider-Man: Brand New Day? Maybe. If you like superhero movies, you should probably enjoy it.  Either way, you’re better off seeing The Odyssey again, or The Invite if it’s still playing in your area.  But you can’t exactly bring your kids to either of those movies, so you might have to settle for a film that is going to leave some people bored, and some people thrilled.  Either outcome is entirely possible, and might depend on your expectations, but we can all agree on one thing: this is certainly better than The Amazing Spider-Man 2.