MOVIE REVIEW: SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY

 

Peter Parker devotes his life to protecting New York City as a full-time Spider-Man. But as the demands on him intensify, the pressure sparks a surprising physical evolution that threatens his existence, even as a strange new pattern of crimes gives rise to one of the most powerful threats he's ever faced.

Director: Destin Daniel Cretton

Cast: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Tramell Tillman, Michael Mando, Mark Ruffalo 

Release Date: July 24, 2026

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

Rated PG-13 for sequences of action/violence and some language.

Runtime: 2h 25m

Review:

Spider-Man: Brand New Day delivers an impressive refocus on the central character that delivers emotional weight and spectacle in equal parts anchored by one of Tom Holland’s best turns behind the mask.  Destin Daniel Cretton takes over the reins from Jon Watts, who directed the three previous solo entries, with impressive confidence as he thrust the audience into the ground level of super heroism that Spider-Man generally engages in.  The action set pieces are impressive across the board with Cretton utilizing inventive use of slow-motion shots and POV to make those moments pop off the screen.  The action is visually frenetic, engaging and most importantly fun as we watch the webslinger in his Manhattan home fighting off smaller scale of villainy than this version of the character has been dealing with during his Marvel cinematic run.  It delivers what you’d hope for from a summer blockbuster but underneath it all the script delivers an emotional core that captures the essence of Peter Parker’s, who’s been forgotten by everyone, as he deals with loneliness and isolation by throwing himself into his work.  Tom Holland delivers one of his best turns in the role as he manages to balance the character’s wide-eyed optimism that’s always been part of the character but peppered with regret over what he’s loss in order to do the right thing.  Holland has always been a perfect fit for Peter Parker but this might be his signature turn as he’s able to cycle through multiple emotional states as his character evolves in multiple ways.  One of the bigger surprises of the film is the mini buddy comedy with Holland’s Spider-Man and Jon Bernthal’s lethally gruff Punisher.  Their back-and-forth interactions and opposing personalities make their friendship so much fun to watch with both actors giving an impressive level of authenticity to their relationship.  In most superhero films, this would serve as a fun cameo with little effect to the story but this script actually makes his presence and their relationship make sense into the overall narrative which makes it all the more effective.  Zendaya and Jacob Batalon return as Parker’s love interest and best friend with both delivering solid work as they rediscover their relationships with the webslinger.  Sadie Sink’s sort of villainess is fine but probably the weakest part of the entire film as she serves as a constant reminder that her character is there mostly to set up for films and characters.  Mark Ruffalo, Michael Mando and Tramell Tillman have smaller supporting turns with each making the most of their time onscreen but you do get the sense the film could have made better use of them with slightly beefier roles.  Nitpicks aside, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is effective on so many levels that you can’t help but appreciate the care that went into making one of the best entries in the character’s filmography. 

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: NOVOCAINE

 

When the girl of his dreams gets kidnapped, a man turns his inability to feel pain into an unexpected advantage as he fights a bunch of thugs to get her back.

Director: Robert Olsen, Dan Berk

Cast: Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder, Ray Nicholson, Jacob Batalon, Betty Gabriel, Matt Walsh

Release Date: March 14, 2025

Genre: Action, Comedy, Thriller

Rated R for strong bloody violence, grisly images, and language throughout.

Runtime: 1h 50m

Review:

Novocaine is fun, over the top, gimmick driven action film that stays afloat thanks to its gonzo approach and likable turns from Jack Quaid and Amber Midthunder.  Directors Robert Olsen and Dan Berk deliver a quirky blend of rom-com moments offset by a series of increasingly gory violence throughout the film.  There are echoes of 2006's frenetic Crank even though this film can't maintain that sort of unbridled manic energy consistently.  There are plenty of high points scattered throughout the film's nearly two-hour runtime which makes for a choppy experience that screams for some judicious editing especially for this kind of film.  When it works it does so because of the well acclimated set pieces that make great use of our living crash test dummy as he pursues his kidnapped love interest.  Jack Quaid brings what's quickly becoming a trademark goofy charm to the role that fits this incredibly sheltered character perfectly.  Quaid makes it easy to root for this character that's totally out of his depth who's more than willing to risk life and limb to rescue the girl that's taken his heart.   Amber Midthunder works well as the love interest here as she's clearly more than just a damsel in distress.  Midthunder gives her character a bit more depth than you'd expect from this sort of role and the film is better for it overall.  The supporting players aren't so lucky as we get a handful of generic police and thug types played by Betty Gabriel, Matt Walsh and Ray Nicholson with only Walsh leaving noticeable mark.  This film also serves as a perfect example of the film's marketing killing most of the surprises and fun it has to offer as the trailer provide a nearly step by step run of the film's best parts leaving very little unseen.  It’s a shame because if you've seen any of the trailers for Novocaine, you've likely seen the best parts of the film as nearly every moment is given away beforehand.   

C+