Credited Director – Destin Daniel Cretton; Credited Writer(s) – Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers
For 2/3rds of this film, it was the most like reading a comic book I had felt while watching one of these projects since Avengers: Endgame (non-pejorative). Holland is excellent as Peter Parker, his performance growing well over the last few films into a very well-executed depiction of a truly adult Spider-Man, with real grown-up wants, needs, and difficulties. These wants are represented by his old friend Ned and his old girlfriend MJ. Both Jacob Batalon and Zendeya, in their roles peppered throughout Brand New Day, are also excellent – giving a true sense of a missed life, and a happier version of the present that our protagonist can never quite reach. This is why it is so unfortunate that we lose sight of that protagonist for a good 20 minutes in the third act, which more thoroughly explores Sadie Sink’s mysterious antagonist role. She takes to the part well, but rather than developing both hero and conflicted villain, Brand New Day sacrifices one for the other, leaving the film quite rudderless for large sections. That being said, it is probably one of the best examples of a comic book film this side of The Batman.
Even Briefer, Please: I reckon it’s a Yes – a funny and heartfelt picture, both large-scale yet decently grounded.
Briefly, Please 