All images are courtesy of SONY Pictures

Tom Holland is one of those rare actors I’ve practically seen grow up right before my eyes. I first spotted him in the dystopian sci-fi film How I Live Now when he was just 16 back in 2013, a couple of years before he slipped into the Spider-Man suit in Captain America: Civil War. He’s really evolved as an actor, now starring in his fourth standalone Spidey film and his seventh appearance as the character in the MCU. 

I recently rewatched Spider-Man: No Way Home in anticipation of this new one, and it was just as enjoyable as when I first saw it back in 2021. This movie is set four years after Peter Parker asked Doctor Strange to essentially erase his entire existence and the memories of everyone who knows and cares for him. He’s now an adult living alone in New York City, fighting crime in a city that no longer remembers him. You can really feel Peter’s deep loneliness and sorrow, missing his girl MJ (Zendaya) and his buddy Ned (Jacob Batalon), who are now roommates while studying at MIT. He’s still mourning his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), and the guilt over her death weighs heavily on him.

Many people dealing with depression often throw themselves into their work, and for Peter, his crime-fighting and constant monitoring of police scanners act as a way to mask his heartbreak. Destin Daniel Cretton skillfully balances the emotional moments with the high-octane action of relentless crime-fighting. The Big Apple feels like a character once again, alongside tough New Yorkers like Detective Jean DeWolff (The Bear‘s Liza Colón-Zayas), with whom Spider-Man shares crime intel. DeWolff is practically his only friend at the moment; she genuinely cares for him even though she doesn’t know his true identity. 

Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers are back to write the script, the same lead writers of all four of Tom Holland’s solo films. This consistency helps maintain continuity for the main characters, providing a seamless transition from original trilogy director Jon Watts. Reportedly, Justin Kuritzkes, the screenwriter of Challengers, played a big role in enhancing and deepening the dialogue during the emotional moments. The script allows the characters to evolve, and Peter must face challenges on his own, without the mentorship of Tony Stark or any other Avenger.

Holland, too, continues to evolve as an actor. He’s got that relatable charm mixed with a playful star quality that makes him fun to watch. This time, he dives into his deep emotional angst and vulnerable side. We get to see a more mature version of the superhero, moving beyond the wide-eyed, wisecracking teenager we’re used to. Holland is adept at conveying pathos, a quality evident in all his performances. The scene where he meets MJ and Ned at a party and observes them ‘moving on’ from him is poignant and deeply affecting. The emotional weight feels genuine and packs more punch than even the fiercest battles with super-powered foes.

Holland has gotten even more ripped lately and isn’t shy about showing it off; Peter spends a lot of time shirtless in this film. His more muscular build definitely adds to his presence in the gritty street-fighting scenes. The action sequences are stunning; I enjoyed the raw, practical, and creative martial arts choreography. Cretton teamed up again with the legendary Jackie Chan Stunt Team, the same action directors and fight choreographers he worked with on his last MCU film, Shang-Chi. Brett Pawlak did an amazing job with the cinematography here; he’s the same director of photography who worked on several of Cretton’s films and the Wonder Man series.

I still think back to how awesome the bus fight scene was in Shang-Chi, and there are quite a few memorable ones in this one too. The showdown in the third act where Spidey takes on the red-clad ninja group known as The Hand is definitely a highlight. And of course, the fight scenes featuring Punisher (Jon Bernthal) and the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) are both dynamic and comical. The banter between Holland and Bernthal is the comic relief; the two are good friends in real life, and it shows in their performance.

Most of the funniest moments come from the action, even though the overall vibe is a bit more serious and downcast. Even Michael Giacchino‘s score takes on a more pensive tone this time, offering a distinct sound that downplays the use of familiar motifs. While this change reflects the character’s development, I think the overall score isn’t as memorable here.

Unlike the buoyant and quirky humor of Spidey’s teenage years in Watts’ trilogy, this film leans more towards the tone of the Sam Raimi era, reminiscent of Tobey Maguire’s heartbroken, down-on-his-luck Peter. The DNA mutation, Peter figuring out how to use organic web-shooters, and even the iconic upside-down kiss all bring back memories of Raimi’s films. I’m all for a throwback reference or two to the franchise’s history, but sometimes it feels a bit too repetitive and recycled. It’s ironic that, given the film’s title is Brand New Day, the narrative leans more towards nostalgia.

I miss the moments between Peter, MJ, and Ned, but the script still offers some adorable moments featuring the trio. Holland, Zendaya, and Batalon have essentially grown up together in this franchise, which makes their chemistry seem real. Ned has always been a huge Spider-Man fanboy, and he’s created the Spidey Tracker, which lets regular folks track Spider-Man’s sightings and movements around the city. It’s a bittersweet moment for Peter, as even though in Ned’s current mind he doesn’t exist, his bestie’s fascination for his superhero persona never goes away.

The last movie had two big cameos from former Spider-Man actors, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, but this one has a cool cameo as well! It’s fun to see Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova show up at a Russian spa, being her usual spunky self. I’d love to see a standalone Yelena movie; honestly, I’d prefer that over Avengers: Doomsday any day.

As for the mysterious character that’s been kept secret for months, I think it’s best that you discover it yourself. Poor Sadie Sink was forbidden to even say anything about her character during a lengthy press tour, but let’s just say that her casting, along with Tramell Tillman as the head of the U.S. Department of Damage Control, is a deliberate move to set the stage for a future Marvel franchise. Sink does a solid job in her role, but at times her character’s storyline pushes Peter Parker aside to focus on her backstory.

Overall, I find Brand New Day enjoyable despite the flaws. Cretton understood the assignment and created a grown-up, deeply emotional Spider-Man while still giving us a fun action movie with all the street-level web-slinging heroics. That said, I do think it’s time for Holland to hang up his Spidey suit and pursue more mature and unexpected roles that showcase his depth as an actor. I, for one, am ready to take a break from MCU movies for a while.

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