A few nights ago, my wife and I were talking about how easy it is to lose touch with old friends. It usually does not happen because of an argument or some dramatic falling out. During my first marriage, I devoted nearly all of my time to work and family. Friends would invite me to dinners, parties or other activities, but I rarely joined them. At the time, I assumed those friendships would always be waiting for me. The invitations gradually became less frequent before eventually stopping altogether, while my friends continued building lives that no longer included me.
I did not realize how much those relationships had changed until after my divorce. When I went looking for those old friendships again, I discovered that I had become the outsider. My friends had developed new routines, formed new relationships and shared experiences that I knew nothing about. We still had memories of the people we used to be, but I was no longer part of their present. It was a difficult reminder that relationships cannot survive on memories alone, especially when only one person is trying to return to a life everyone else has already left behind.
Peter Parker experiences a far more literal version of that loneliness in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, the latest installment in the franchise takes place after Doctor Strange’s spell caused everyone to forget Peter Parker in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Peter (Tom Holland) now lives as a recluse, with his only meaningful interactions coming from Det. Jean DeWolff (Liza Colón-Zayas) and Frank Castle, also known as the Punisher (Jon Bernthal).
When Peter begins experiencing strange symptoms, he discovers that his spider mutations are taking over his body. At the same time, a telepath (Sadie Sink) begins using her powers to attack the Department of Damage Control for unknown reasons. After discovering Spider-Man’s identity, she targets Ned (Jacob Batalon) and MJ (Zendaya), the two people Peter loves most, to keep him from interfering.
Desperate to stop both her and his mutations, Peter seeks help from Dr. Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), who has found a way to keep his alter ego, the Hulk, under control. The new technology Parker creates may be able to keep the spider at bay, but it could also have far more sinister implications, leaving him to decide if he is Peter Parker, or Spider-Man.
The film is a roller coaster of emotions, blending drama, comedy and action in a way we have grown to expect from the Spider-Man franchise. This time, however, those emotions are cranked up by the loneliness and depression Peter hides beneath the mask. His entire world changed in the previous movie. Aunt May is no longer there to offer motherly advice, while his girlfriend, MJ, and his best friend, Ned, no longer know who he is, even though Peter remembers everything they shared.
Peter’s loneliness is something many of us have experienced at some point in our lives. When he is given opportunities to reignite his relationships with Ned and MJ, those moments are both heartwarming and heart-wrenching, especially when they cannot reciprocate his feelings or are forced to imitate them under the telepath’s influence.
The chemistry between Holland, Zendaya and Batalon remains one of the film’s greatest strengths. After appearing together throughout the franchise, they genuinely feel like best friends with years of shared history. The relationship between Peter and MJ is even more convincing now that Holland and Zendaya are married in real life, bringing an added layer of authenticity to every interaction. Their chemistry has grown stronger with each film, making the emotional distance between these characters in Spider-Man: Brand New Day even more painful.
I also like the juxtaposition between Peter, Frank Castle and Sadie Sink’s character. Peter has reached a point in his life where he has chosen to be Spider-Man more than Peter Parker. That decision has allowed his spider half to take over his body, giving him heightened aggression and organic webbing while his humanity slowly slips away.
Frank has already traveled much further down that path, surrendering almost all of his humanity to his role as the Punisher. He kills without remorse or concern for the sanctity of the lives he considers guilty. Sadie Sink’s character is heading in the same direction. After losing everyone she cared about, she uses her powers to seek revenge against those she holds responsible. Both characters serve as warnings of what Peter could become if he does not regain control of his life and reconnect with his humanity.
In my reviews, I always try to discuss the things I did not like. I can usually find a flaw in any movie, even if it is something incredibly small. There is almost always a scene that runs too long, a character who feels unnecessary or a storyline that needs more development. Spider-Man: Brand New Day, however, is one of the rare films in which I cannot find any real fault. Even with a runtime of 145 minutes, not a single moment feels unnecessarily long or drawn out. The action sequences are exciting without overstaying their welcome, while the quieter, emotional moments are given enough time to make an impact.
At the same time, nothing feels rushed, skimmed over or left unresolved.
Director Destin Daniel Cretton deserves a great deal of credit for keeping everything moving without allowing the film to feel overcrowded. He balances Peter’s physical transformation, his relationships with MJ and Ned, the Punisher’s involvement, Sadie Sink’s mysterious character and several classic villains while giving each one a purpose within the larger story. Cretton also maintains the blend of drama, comedy and action that makes the movie so effective.
Finding that balance is rare, especially in a comic book film with this many characters and ideas, but he makes it look effortless. Every scene feels necessary, making Spider-Man: Brand New Day one of those exceptional movies that fully justifies its lengthy runtime.
I give Spider-Man: Brand New Day a perfect five out of five stars.
The film delivers an exceptional balance of drama, comedy and action, supported by powerful performances, genuine chemistry and thoughtful direction from Destin Daniel Cretton. Most importantly, Peter’s journey is a reminder that losing touch with the people we love can leave us feeling like outsiders in lives we once shared.
Memories may preserve what those relationships meant to us, but they cannot keep the relationships alive on their own. Whether the distance was created by a magical spell or simply by allowing life to pull people apart, reconnecting requires us to step out of our isolation and rediscover the humanity we may have lost along the way.