VENOM: THE LAST DANCE (2024)
Starring Tom Hardy, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, Rhys Ifans, Peggy Lu, Alanna Ubach, Stephen Graham, Clark Backo, Cristo Fernández, Hala Finley, Ivo Nandi, Dash McCloud and Otis Winston.
Screenplay by Kelly Marcel.
Directed by Kelly Marcel.
Distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing. 110 minutes. Rated R.
Sony’s been trying to build a whole universe of films for years now just on the fact that they have the rights to one major Marvel character – Spider-Man – on their books. And they have made a deal with Disney to allow Spidey to be part of the whole Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Therefore Sony’s films basically are promoting Spider-Man villains to the hero position. This has mostly had very mediocre results – Morbius and Madame Web, anybody? Or the upcoming Kraven the Hunter? The closest thing to a hit that Sony has put together in this universe is the Venom series.
In fact, The Last Dance is the third Venom film in about six years. In the days leading up to the film’s release, word was that Venom 3 was getting terrific early reviews, with some critics calling it the best film in the series, some even saying it was the best comic book film ever.
I saw the Venom screening a day after reading about this excitement for the new film, and it actually made me kind of hopeful. Now that I’ve seen the movie, I have to say, yeah, okay, sort of, I guess. I may even agree that Venom: The Last Dance is arguably the best film of the Venom series, but that is less than impressive because the other two weren’t all that good.
But the best superhero film ever? No way. Not even close.
Venom: The Last Dance is what it is, a kind of fun, periodically exciting film that we have all seen variations of before. And the biggest problem with the series has not exactly changed, Venom is kind of a ridiculous character. Particularly odd are the regular scenes where Venom’s human host Eddie (Tom Hardy) has conversations with an oozing face of Venom which is attached to his body by a shimmering, pulsating thread of goo.
So, therefore, although the fast-talking patter between Eddie and his alien bestie is often pretty funny, the rest of the cartoon action is pretty generic. Well done, but generic.
Then, as the film goes on, it tries to wring pathos from the idea of Eddie and Venom being potentially separated. For some people I suppose that may be a selling point. For me, though, I couldn’t get all worked up about the idea of losing a brain-munching goo monster from Eddie’s life – one that has caused him nothing but problems in the past (or at least the past three movies).
Even though Venom 3 is subtitled The Last Dance, there are more than a few hints that this series may eventually pick up again. No big rush guys.
Honestly, the chances are good that you’ll have completely forgotten Venom: The Last Dance by the time you walk out of the theater and have reached your car. I know that I had.
Jay S. Jacobs
Copyright ©2024 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: October 24, 2024.
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