'Spider-Man' returns to roots; new film divides critics, tests Marvel's future

Five years after "Spider-Man: No Way Home," Tom Holland returns as Peter Parker in "Spider-Man: Brand New Day." This film is not just another sequel but an effort to re-establish one of the most popular superhero characters, as Marvel films face declining audience enthusiasm and rising expectations. The movie has sparked widespread debate among critics, who are split between those who see it as a successful return to the character's essence and those who view it as further evidence of the genre's crisis.

The story picks up after "No Way Home," with the entire world having forgotten Peter Parker. He now lives alone, estranged from friends, family, and his girlfriend. This dramatic shift has led the filmmakers to abandon the multiverse concept and focus on a more human-centric story, where psychological conflict drives the plot, and saving the world takes a backseat.

This approach has not garnered universal acclaim. The Wall Street Journal argued that the film deviates significantly from the spirit of Holland's previous movies. While earlier installments blended comedy, adventure, and fast pacing, Peter Parker is now portrayed as isolated and anxious. The review criticized the script for prioritizing lengthy psychological dialogues and explanations over plot development, and for relying too heavily on cameos from other Marvel characters to excite the audience rather than serving the main storyline.

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The film's strength lies in its focus on the human aspect of the superhero, where Peter Parker battles to reclaim his life and relationships, more than his preoccupation with confronting a new villain.

Criticism also extended to the direction, with The Wall Street Journal suggesting director Destin Daniel Cretton failed to imbue the action sequences with the necessary intensity for a character like Spider-Man. The fights, according to the newspaper, felt disconnected from the dramatic context, diminishing their impact. Tom Holland's performance was deemed less spontaneous, as he attempts a more mature and complex portrayal, potentially losing some of the charm that initially connected audiences to Peter Parker.

In contrast, The Washington Post offered a different perspective, considering the film a step in the right direction by returning Spider-Man to a more grounded scale, away from universe-ending threats. The newspaper believes the film's strength lies in its focus on the human aspect of the superhero, with Peter Parker battling to reclaim his life and relationships rather than confronting a new villain. This shift, according to The Washington Post, adds greater depth to the character, as audiences follow a hero trying to cope with loneliness and rebuild his life from scratch, making the story more relatable. The paper also praised the emotional dynamic between Tom Holland and Zendaya, noting their shared scenes carry significant emotional weight because the audience knows their history, while MJ experiences their interactions as if meeting Peter for the first time. The Washington Post specifically lauded Jon Bernthal's portrayal of "The Punisher," calling it one of the film's most significant additions due to the chemistry between him and Spider-Man in both dialogue and fight scenes. The confrontations with "The Hand" were also highlighted as some of Marvel's best action sequences in recent years, due to their innovative combat design.

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The film relies heavily on the appearance of well-known characters from the Marvel universe to excite the audience, more than employing them to serve the main plot.