Listen to this article
Estimated 5 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
After the global success and cultural reset of 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, Tom Holland is back playing New York’s favourite web-slinging hero.
But this time, Peter Parker has to deal with the fallout of the monumental decision he made to erase his memory from everyone across the multiverse, including his best friend Ned and his girlfriend MJ.
Amidst widespread Marvel multiverse fatigue, can Spider-Man: Brand New Day revive the MCU’s fandom?
Today on Commotion, film critics Rad Simonpillai and Kristy Puchko, and culture writer Maura Johnston join host Elamin Abdelmahmooud to talk about the charm of Tom Holland’s latest turn as Spider-Man, and whether his franchise’s fourth film can give the MCU the boost it needs.
We’ve included some highlights below, edited for length and clarity. For the full discussion on the Hollywood return of Johnny Depp, and the tragic death of musician Glen Hansard, listen and follow Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud on your favourite podcast player.
Elamin: The last Spider-Man movie ended with a heartbreak: Peter Parker’s got to make everyone forget that he’s Spider-Man. Everyone he loves, no one knows who he is anymore. Where does this story go from there?
Kristy: This Peter Parker, particularly, was defined by his community, and it takes all of that away from him. And so now, we’re in sad Batman territory. And I like a Batman, but I like a wacky Batman. I like when Batman’s broody, but everyone else around him is bonkers. And so this kind of bummed me out. I don’t like sad Peter Parker, especially because it opens — this is not a spoiler — it opens with him just kind of virtually stalking his old friends via social media. And I’m like, look, dude — relatable. But also, bummer. This is not the kickoff to the Spider-Man movie I was hoping for. So, he’s essentially hermit-ing it up in a New York apartment that we do not understand how he can pay for, because he’s just Spider-Man-ing full-time. And it seems like his only friend is a cop who pulls a shift at The Bear.
Jean DeWolff (Liza Colón-Zayas, left) talks with Spider-Man in Columbia Pictures SPIDER-MAN™: BRAND NEW DAY. (Jay Maidment)
Elamin: I like the thing that you said about this Spider-Man being defined by his community. Because that’s the thing that made the Tom Holland Spider-Man movies delightful to watch, right? The idea that he’s got his little crew with him. He’s got a man in the chair who knows that he is Spider-Man. And at the same time, he’s got his larger community of other superheroes who every once in a while are like, hey, would you help?… Not so with this Spider-Man.
I will also say that, Rad, this is landing at a time when it’s been a rough ride for the MCU for a minute.… There’s been Deadpool & Wolverine. That worked out OK. Can I tell you anything about Captain America: Brave New World? No, sir I cannot. Can I tell you anything about the plot of The Marvels? No, when did that come out? Who is in it? Does that even exist? What is Eternals? Those are movies that I think came and went, and just did not make the splash that we’re sort of expecting Marvel movies to have done. You get this movie. Is this the movie that’s gonna make people go, “Oh, yeah, I like superhero movies. Let me go back to that world again”?
Radheyan: I mean, I think it’s going to make a lot of the people who were here for it from the beginning say that…. The Marvel movies that I’ve actually liked are few and far between. But yes, for the people that were upset by how lousy Captain America: Brave New World was, how messy The Marvels was, they are certainly going to be satisfied with this movie. They’re going to be excited about this movie because at least this one’s competent, you know, at best….
Interestingly enough, I think what I appreciated about this movie is the stuff that Kristy is like, “Oh, downer,” you know? It’s the attempt at Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2 vibes, right?… That’s the one that struck the perfect balance of being the superhero adventure, but really being about Spider-Man’s personal growth … and really putting the relationships front and centre. And I think this movie is going for that.
I think Destin Daniel Cretton does want to make the characters be the thing that drives the narrative. Unfortunately, he is still part of this Marvel franchise. And this Marvel franchise says, “Oh, we’ve got to bring in John Bernthal as the Punisher, and we’ve got to bring in the Incredible Hulk.”… And then you also have this mystery character, who is basically ushering in the next era of Marvel movies. So you feel, kind of, the property tax once again that these movies always have to pay to the Marvel franchise, that they have been having to pay the Marvel franchises since Iron Man 2 where it’s about homework that you have to do for the next movie.
You can listen to the full discussion from today’s show on CBC Listen or on our podcast, Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud, available wherever you get your podcasts.
Panel produced by Stuart Berman and Jean Kim.
