For a superhero who’s gone to space, been wiped out of existence, and has literally held infinity in the palm of his hand (okay, more like a gauntlet in his arms, but you know what I mean) – what else can Spider-Man face that would be of interest to the audience? That’s what Spider-Man: Brand New Day sets out to show, with a more grounded story that starts with Spider-Man operating with street-level threats. From outer space to, well, a bachelor pad space, the reorienting of the Spider-Man saga to a more personal narrative is a good start to the (intended) new trilogy of Spider-Man films.

Synopsis of Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a superhero film that is the 38th movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the 4th MCU Spider-Man film starring Tom Holland as the title character. It sees Spider-Man struggling to cope on his own after the events of the previous film, even as he deals with his own biological issues and a threat unlike any other he has ever faced.

Director: Destin Daniel Cretton

Writers: Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers

Cast:

• Tom Holland (Spider-Man/Peter Parker)
• Zendaya (Michelle “MJ” Jones-Watson)
• Sadie Sink (Jean Grey)
• Jacob Batalon (Ned Leeds)
• Jon Bernthal (Punisher/Frank Castle)
• Florence Pugh (Black Widow/Yelena Belova)
• Tramell Tillman (Bill Metzger)
• Marisa Tomei (May Parker)
• Mark Ruffalo (Hulk/Bruce Banner)
• Michael Mando (Scorpion/Mac Gargan)
• Liza Colón-Zayas (Jean DeWolff)
• Olivia Booth-Ford (Sara Grey)
• Marvin Jones III (Tombstone/Lonnie Lincoln)

Small potatoes are still potatoes

As the movie begins, we see Spider-Man’s sense of nihilism as he does his best to fight crime and keep the streets of New York safe. Long-time MCU viewers will know that before this, Spider-Man had access to Iron Man technology, had superhero buddies in the form of the Avengers, and had a good support network in the form of Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), MJ (Zendaya), and Ned (Jacob Batalon). Now, he doesn’t – and consequently, he also doesn’t have the resources to handle the “big potatoes” – so he handles the “small potatoes”.

This is even directly referenced by one of the allies he consults with in the movie, who calls the stuff that he handles “small potatoes”. But it also means that Spider-Man personally touches the lives of each person he saves and gets to know the people that he rescues. In the end, it is this humanity, his direct connection to the “small potatoes” that helps him to save the day – and reminds us that being a street-level hero is just as impactful as being a cosmic one.

Good use of guest stars without being overwhelming

We’ve gotten used to superheroes guest starring in each other’s film all over the MCU, to the point that it can sometimes feel like homework. When did these characters last meet? Are they referring to another show I didn’t watch? How come they already know each other? Spider-Man: Brand New Day has its share of superhero supporting characters, but it never overwhelms. It doesn’t feel like you forgot to catch up on something when you watch their interactions. They feel like organic relationships, and you almost never have that sense of FOMO watching them. It also helps that the selection of guest stars doesn’t make you question why they aren’t all helping Spider-Man in his climatic battle in the finale, and serves to centre the spotlight on the eponymous character himself.

The tragedy of Spider-Man

It has been said that Spider-Man’s life is one that is marked by tragedy and loss – because it’s one of the themes of Spider-Man stories that with great power must come great responsibility, and inevitably sacrifice. Compared to lighter, happier atmosphere of the previous three Spider-Man movies, this one sees Spidey at his most miserable. He’s alone, constantly beaten up, overworked, and depressed (though somehow, not poor). While things get better for the wallcrawler, we are reminded that Spider-Man’s life is a tragic one – and that not all superheroes have it good.

Spider-Man is well-liked and well-loved

Previously, when Spider-Man’s identity as Peter Parker was outed, he was the target of some attacks (bricks thrown at his house). We’ve also seen him being verbally attacked by J Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons), and it gives us this general idea that Spider-Man is disliked by society, as inexplicably as this might be.

But not so in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. One of the most heartening aspects of the film is how much people love Spider-Man. There’s so much appreciation for him, and he’s well-liked enough that he can enter government organisations and people generally have lots of goodwill towards him. Given the number of people he’s saved, this makes so much more sense, and gives us a sense of gratification that this is a good universe that Spider-Man lives in.

Spider-Man’s friendships

Even though he’s alone, Spider-Man strikes up a friendship with police officer Jean DeWolff (Liza Colón-Zayas), who serves as a surrogate mother. Given that Peter Parker has virtually no friends, this means that Jean is the closest friend he has, despite the fact that she doesn’t know his identity. As much as Spider-Man tries to push people away, the kindness of his character is what draws people to him. And that goes to show what kind of person Spider-Man is, and makes us root for him all the more.

As they meet again for the first time, Spider-Man and Ned’s friendship is also a very touching one to see. It develops in a way that’s both heartbreaking and poignant, especially since we know how much Peter Parker loves his friend (which is the whole reason he’s staying away in the first place). Hence, the final scene before the credits roll was one that had me cheering for the evolution of their friendship.

Action sequences that show how capable Spider-Man is as a hand-to-hand combatant

Being street-level means that we get to see Spider-Man’s melee chops – and given his increased dexterity and Spider Sense, it’s quite a wonder to behold. We see just how powerful Spider-Man is as a fighter, and that even without his strength, Spider-Man is a very capable hand-to-hand fighter. Besides, it’s just plain fun to watch the carefully choreographed action scenes for the webhead.

Some unpolished CGI and plot points

Spider-Man: Brand New Day‘s pacing is superb and there’s never a dull moment. Yet there are some CGI sequences which seem less finished than others, and some plot points that make you go “huh” once you’ve had some time to think about it. The cinematic experience itself is wonderful though.

Should you watch Spider-Man: Brand New Day?

You’ve seen the box office numbers and the sold-out cinema halls, so Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a definite must-watch. It reminds us why Spider-Man is so beloved – for his character, not his powers (well, mostly). It give us spectacular action and shows us that Spider-Man doesn’t act in a silo, but in an interconnected universe. Ultimately, it makes you like Spider-Man even more, if that’s possible, and that’s no mean feat for a fourth instalment of a series. Stay back for a post-credits scene.

Score: 9/10

You might also want to read: 

• [Movie Review] ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ rises to the occasion
• [Movie Review] ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’ delivers on action and characterisation, but has a television feel to it
• [Movie Review] (spoiler free) ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ lives up to all the hype!

Off-Screen Productivity: Relationships and rest

How can this help you to be more productive in life? 

There’s so much to unpack about wellbeing and productivity in Spider-Man, but the two most important points are these – relationships and rest. For much of the film, Spider-Man pushes these two things away – resulting in overwork and serious health problems.

Yet it’s only when he embraces connection, when he finds compassion and empathy for those who have hurt him, that he manages to resolve the major conflict of the film. And it’s when he’s had time to slow down, to rest in the safety of an ally’s lair, that he manages to figure out how to defeat the antagonist of the film.

So the next time you feel overwhelmed or defeated by circumstances in life, think about where you can reach out to for better relationships and greater rest. These are the things that helped Spider-Man save the day, and they are the things that will you do more, too.