Jimmy Kimmel made three commercials for Vulcan Video.
Jimmy Kimmel Live!/YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kefrdEqytOI]
Monday marked the beginning of Jimmy Kimmel's week-long broadcast from Austin. The talk show host has gushed about his love for Austin a lot lately, and during Monday's episode he kept his promise to "boost the local economy."
"Everyone was so warm and welcoming last year, and we wanted to do something to give back," Kimmel said. "There are many big companies here, all trying to get attention. I decided to focus this year on a little one."
In January, Kimmel tweeted out a call for submissions from small businesses on the premise that he and famed Austinite Matthew McConaughey would produce a commercial for one lucky company. Out of the thousands of responses, Kimmel picked the place he felt needed the most recognition.
Kimmel and crew headed to Vulcan Video, local purveyor of new movies, cult films and VHS. "I think we have to show people what's special about this video store, other than the fact that it still exists," Kimmel told Vulcan's proprietors.
Kimmel and McConaughey, his sidekick for the day, made three different — equally hilarious — commercials with a fun, lo-fi vibe. Filled with cheesy transitions, ridiculous voiceovers and multiple Star Trek references, the commercials capture the unique spirit of Vulcan Video. "Quit scrolling. Quit streaming. Start dreaming about V-H-S," quips McConaughey.
Ever since Spider-Man became part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the character’s stand-alone movies have been notable for maintaining their own vision despite having to service the larger MCU storyline. The emotionality of the series reached its high point in No Way Home by bringing back two former Spider-Mans — Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield — to assist Tom Holland in a multiversal storyline.
The heart displayed in that film is superseded by Spider-Man: Brand New Day, in which Peter Parker (Holland) is now alone in the world following the events of the previous film. For years, he has done his best to stay busy by stopping in-progress crimes and checking in with Detective Jean DeWolff (Liza Colón-Zayas), but the twin traumas of losing Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) and forcing girlfriend MJ (Zendaya) and best friend Ned (Jacob Batolon) to forget him still weigh heavily on him.
Almost simultaneously, Peter starts experiencing a change in his physiology and is challenged by a new threat who has a power he does not know how to defeat. As he struggles with both of those things, he asks for help from a variety of sources, including Professor Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), Frank Castle, a.k.a. The Punisher (Jon Bernthal), and — despite not knowing who he is — MJ and Ned, who are now roommates in New York following their college years at MIT.
Directed by Dustin Daniel Cretton and written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers (who have written each of the Holland Spider-Man films), the movie has a near-perfect blend of comic book spectacle and small-scale intimacy. Spider-Man’s ability to swing through New York’s urban landscape with ease provides plenty of opportunities for great action sequences, but the character’s focus on keeping the streets safe and finding a way back to his friends makes the story still feel manageable.
This is aided by the decision not to go overboard with the MCU connections. Bruce Banner/Hulk and a member of the New Avengers show up, but in relatively small roles. The Punisher makes the leap from TV to the movies, and the interaction between him and Spider-Man feels organic. So too does the super-secret villain, whose impact is felt well before they ever show up on screen thanks to a power that is as mysterious as it is effective.
While the action is abundant in the film, the filmmakers lean on emotion much more than most other comic book movies. Peter’s journey back to a semblance of a normal life is well-earned, with his reconnection with MJ and Ned slow-walked in an admirably subtle way. And in the final act, when CGI battles typically take over, the interior lives of Peter and other characters play as much a role in what happens as anything they do physically.
Holland, who tends to take criticism for non-Spider-Man roles, remains the ideal actor for the role. His open-heartedness makes him relatable, his athleticism makes him believable, and he crushes the heavier moments. He and Zendaya, who are now married in real life, work tremendously well together, and Batalon is a fun third wheel. Other standouts include Bernthal, Colón-Zayas, Trammell Tillman, and Stranger Things’ Sadie Sink.
From beginning to end, Spider-Man: Brand New Day now owns the title as the best movie in the current Spider-Man universe. By maintaining connections to past movies, solidly incorporating new characters, and pointing to the future without making it the whole story, it demonstrates a model for how comic book movies should be done.
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Spider-Man: Brand New Day opens in theaters on July 31.
