Spider-Man: Brand New Day

By John Mulderig
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” (Sony)
Peter Parker and his titular alter ego (Tom Holland) face challenges both emotional and physical in this engaging extension of the long-lived franchise. Forced by circumstances to cause everyone around him to forget that they ever knew him, he lives in lonely isolation from his true love (Zendaya) and his best friend (Jacob Batalon). He also begins to experience mysterious medical problems related to his hybrid nature as part human, part arachnid. These come at a bad time since, having brought down a host of ordinary criminals, he faces an unknown opponent who has the ability to inhabit other people’s bodies. Predictably slick action set pieces are paced by poignant moments in director Destin Daniel Cretton’s Marvel Comics-based adventure which carries lessons about the importance of empathy and the futility of vengeance. Those positive values are somewhat offset by an excess of vulgar dialogue, especially from the mouth of an off-and-on ally (Jon Bernthal) the protagonist must rely on in his struggles, making the film questionable fare even for older teens. Much stylized violence with little gore, several instances each of profanity and milder swearing, brief sexual humor, considerable crude talk, a couple of crass terms.
Classification “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” (Sony) – OSV News classification, A-III – adults. Motion Picture Association rating, PG-13 – parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

The Odyssey

“The Odyssey” (Universal)
As written and directed by Christopher Nolan, this lavish, absorbing adaptation of Homer’s epic poem blends spectacle with thematic substance. With his army and the forces of his Greek allies having triumphed over their Trojan foes, King Odysseus (Matt Damon) of Ithaca sets out for his homeland. But his ships lose their way and he and his men are delayed by a series of challenging, and costly, misadventures. In spite of his decades-long absence, Odysseus’ queen (Anne Hathaway) remains faithful to him and despises the unwanted attention of the suitors (the most prominent played by Robert Pattinson) who have besieged her court. Though equally steadfast in his devotion to his father, Odysseus’ young son and heir (Tom Holland) grows impatient and steals away to gain information about the great warrior’s fate. Viewers formed by Judeo-Christian beliefs may find themselves somewhat adrift in a milieu in which the capricious, and often malevolent, gods of the ancient world hold sway. Yet they will easily identify with the screenplay’s emphasis on hospitality, especially as extended to those in need, its affirmation of a pagan version of the golden rule as well as its questioning of what constitutes a just war. Given this classic tale’s educational value, the film is probably acceptable for older teens. Much harsh but mostly bloodless violence, multiple disturbing images, a glimpse of rear nudity in a nonsexual context, a scene of marital sensuality, a couple of instances each of mild swearing and rough language, at least one crude term, about a half-dozen crass expressions.
Classification “The Odyssey” (Universal) – OSV News classification, A-III – adults. Motion Picture Association rating, R – restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

One Night Only

“One Night Only” (Universal)
A frenzied search for sex occupies most of the running time of this comedy from director Will Gluck. The intensity of the quest is due to the fact that the U.S. government has outlawed nonmarital encounters for all but one night of the year. Amid the furor, two New York City romantics (Callum Turner and Monica Barbaro) yearn for something deeper. Both, however, are willing to settle for what they can get. Fate keeps throwing them together after a chance meeting but competition for the last condom in town, among other factors, temporarily sours them on each other. Although the principal pair are appealing in some ways, they are not above such actions as petty theft and, while the wrap-up sends a message about the value of commitment, Travis Braun’s script has by then spent too much time smirking at the animalistic nature of human mating for this last-minute switch in tone to be effective. Skewed values, pervasive sexual humor, including frequent nonmarital sensuality, rear male nudity, off-screen premarital activity, same-sex kissing, about a half-dozen profanities, several milder oaths, much rough and some crude language, an obscene image.
Classification “One Night Only” (Universal) – OSV News classification, O – morally offensive. Motion Picture Association rating, R – restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. (John Mulderig is media reviewer for OSV News. Follow him on X @JohnMulderig1.)