Peter Parker is back. But he is a little worn and weary from everything that has happened in his life.

And it has been a lot.

He is alone.

He is still grieving the loss of Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), bringing flowers to her grave every day. 

Tony Stark is no longer around to mentor him.

He has also lost his girlfriend, MJ (Zendaya), and his best friend, Ned (the ever-lovable Jacob Batalon). After Doctor Strange cast the spell that saved the universe, the memories of Peter Parker were erased from the whole world. But what pains the most is his erasure from the memories of the people he loves.

To cope, Peter returns to what he knows best: protecting the streets of New York City. He sets up a modest workstation in an asbestos-filled room, accompanied only by an AI assistant named E.V. (voiced by Naomi Watts), whose presence recalls Paul Bettany's J.A.R.V.I.S. from the Iron Man films, albeit in a far less advanced form.

Apart from his partnership with Captain Jean DeWolff (Liza Colón-Zayas), Peter has lost almost every meaningful human connection in his life.

Destin Daniel Cretton Brings Spider-Man Back to His Comic-Book Roots

Taking over from Jon Watts, who helmed the first three Spider-Man films, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings director Destin Daniel Cretton successfully creates a Spider-Man world filled with nostalgia. Several sequences feel as though they have leapt straight from the pages of the comics, while the exhilarating web-swinging across New York instantly reminded this reviewer of Marvel's Spider-Man (2018), developed by Insomniac Games: from soaring through the skyline to Peter's awkward crash landings.

The film's darker color palette immediately sets it apart from the previous trilogy. It reflects Peter's emotional state. Gone is the carefree teenager who was discovering his powers. In his place is a young man carrying grief, loneliness, and responsibility.

The action sequences are magnetic. Some moments feel instantly familiar, and that's because they deliberately recreate iconic comic-book panels. Several confrontations involving The Hand seem lifted directly from the source material, and they are among the film's visual highlights.

Tom Holland Delivers His Most Mature Spider-Man Yet

Tom Holland delivers perhaps his most emotionally mature performance as Peter Parker. He remains charmingly awkward and effortlessly funny, particularly when he crashes one of Ned's house parties and awkwardly introduces himself to MJ all over again. His physicality as Spider-Man remains exceptional, though he jokingly mentions he now has to stretch before a fight because, as he quips, "I'm not in high school anymore."

But it is Holland's eyes that carry the performance. Without saying much, they communicate Peter's loneliness, exhaustion, and eventually, his determination.

The film also cleverly illustrates how emotional trauma can manifest physically. A traumatic event begins affecting Peter's arachnid physiology, a relatable metaphor for how emotional burdens often find their way into our bodies.

Jon Bernthal is another standout as Frank Castle, better known as The Punisher. While this Punisher feels softer than audiences may expect, his onscreen chemistry with Holland is undeniable. Their brotherly dynamic feels natural, perhaps helped by the fact that Bernthal and Holland have been close friends since filming Pilgrimage  when Holland was just 17 years old. They even famously helped each other record their audition tapes for their eventual Marvel roles.

Mark Ruffalo also returns as Bruce Banner. Without Tony Stark to turn to, Peter seeks Bruce's guidance in finding a scientific solution to his predicament. Ruffalo's presence is immediately comforting, having been a familiar face in the MCU since The Avengers in 2012.

Sadie Sink is perfectly cast in a role we will not spoil here. She once again demonstrates the emotional range that made her unforgettable as Max Mayfield in Stranger Things.

A Welcome Return to the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man

The film is not without its flaws. Its pacing occasionally slows the momentum, with certain emotional conflicts lingering longer than necessary.

Still, what makes Spider-Man: Brand New Day such a refreshing addition to the seemingly struggling Marvel Cinematic Universe is its decision to bring Spider-Man back to his roots.

Spider-Man has always been a street-level hero, standing alongside characters such as Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and The Punisher. Unlike Marvel's cosmic gods and multiversal beings, these heroes fight crimes that feel immediate and personal. They make mistakes. They get hurt. They are deeply human.

That is exactly what Brand New Day understands.

Spider-Man is finally back where he belongs: on the streets of New York instead of the far reaches of the multiverse. The film reminds us why audiences fell in love with Peter Parker in the first place. He is not beloved because he is the strongest superhero. He is beloved because he is the most relatable. He keeps getting knocked down, yet he keeps choosing to do the right thing.

In Brand New Day, Peter Parker is finally allowed to be both fully human and fully Spider-Man.

And that may be exactly what brings audiences back to the cinemas.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is now showing in cinemas nationwide.