VENOM: THE LAST DANCE – Review

Okay “Marvel maniacs”, are you ready for a deep deep dive into another franchise? After all, it’s been nearly three months since the blockbuster “mash-up” DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE. Of course you are, but hold up, true believer. This isn’t the beloved MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe). Rather, we’re back in the “Sony Spider-verse”. So Tom Holland is off polishing his web-shooters (not a metaphor), as we get another “spin-off” from Spidey’s long-running comics series. And, unfortunately, this isn’t another romp in the surprisingly fun animated epics. No, this is the second live-action flick this year, after the “so bad it may be good” MADAME WEB, and while Kraven sharpens his claws for his December attack. And, sorry that vapid vamp MORBIUS is not returning, although this film’s focus has had better luck with two previous outings in 2018 and 2021. Now, with this third entry, Sony promises that this is the “finale of the trilogy”. Hence the full title VENOM: THE LAST DANCE. But that all depends on those all-mighty box office returns, so…

This time the story begins on the symbiote home world (or universe, perhaps) as its ruler/king Knull sends out several reptile/spider-like “hunters” to locate the “codex”, an energy portal that grants him access to all worlds, which Knull will conquer. So, who has the codex? None other than Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) and his own BFF symbiote entity. When we last saw him (them) during the end credits of SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME, he was getting blotto in a bar on our Earth (#616). Brock and V then pop back to his homebase, where his black-ooze buddy dispatches some baddies. Ah, but it turns out that morphing into Venom sends out a homing beacon to Knull’s hunters. Also, an elite group of special ops soldiers led by Rex Strickland (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is also trying to capture Eddie. He and his “inner voice” escape and set their sights on the “Big Apple”. We soon learn that Strickland is working with a team of scientists headed by Dr. Teddy Payne (Juno Temple) who operate out of a secret symbiote research lab deep below the soon-to-be demolished Area 51. In order to evade their “radar”, Eddie hitches a ride with the groovy Moon family in a van driven by daddy Martin (Rhys Ifans) and mom Nova (Alanna Ubach), who want their kids (Hala Finley and Dash McCloud) to take in 51 before it’s gone. They drop Eddie off in Vegas where a reunion with an old friend leads to a battle atop the casino canyons which spills into the desert and that iconic military locale, as Venom must make its “last stand”…with some unexpected support.

As with the previous two flicks, everything’s resting on Eddie B, the “host with the most” who is given a world-weary gravitas by Hardy. Again, he’s a bit baffled by his fate, and has a “push/pull” relationship with the toothy ebony puddle. He’s convincingly hungover in the opening sequence, but his hangdog grousing becomes a tad tiresome, even as he’s a “symbiote straight-man”. It’s odd that Brock is so often “one-note” since Hardy worked on the script (as he did with the last one), and too often sounds like his “cycle-poppa” from BIKERIDERS. Most of the supporting cast get little to do, perhaps to leave more time for the CGI chaos. The very talented Ms. Temple (so good in the streaming shows “Ted Lasso” and “The Offer”) does her best to bring nuance to the standard “don’t destroy my discovery” scientist from countless 50’s sci-fi flicks, but too often she’s shouting while doing a “deer in headlights” expression. Much of the same can be said for the equally gifted Ejiofor, who’s another “late show” cliched “kill this thing!” soldier, who is there to bark orders while spouting exposition. The biggest misuse of talent may be Ifans as the “Earth papa” who offers support to Eddie while having to deal with a corny “moonbeam” stereotype (ditto for Ubach). There is a nice “Lasso” reunion with Cristo Fernandez as a really patient “booze-slinger”.

This film marks the feature directing debut of actress/writer Kelly Marcel, who wrote the last two Venom flicks and teamed up with Hardy on the script for this one. She is adept at keeping the plot moving at a brisk pace for the first act or so, but the requirements of an action/effects “tentpole”, sends any character development and humor far into the background. There’s also some irritating “fan service” as a supporting character from the first films is clumsily “shoe-horned” into the big finale in Nevada. This one’s an improvement over CARNAGE as they make great use of the dusty locales. And we’re not stuck in those near-pitch black alleyways as the tenements crumble. Plus there’s a few nifty visual tricks as the symbiote bonds with various wildlife (be warned, his equine form is fleeting). But, by the time we get back to 51, the script desperation kicks in as we get an “Avengers-team” of “Venom-lites” to dash up and fill the screen with fire and pixels. As the smoke clears, we’re feeling as tired as Eddie Brock appears. This is one alien that should “phone home” since it has truly worn out its welcome (along with the moviegoers patience). But since the Spidey series is so strong. it’s a given that he’ll be back to bare his teeth and wiggle that serpent-like tongue despite the promise in the title of VENOM: THE LAST DANCE. I can almost hear that growling gravelly voice (I could only “get” two thirds of its quips) chuckling…

1.5 Out of 4

VENOM: THE LAST DANCE is now playing in theatres everywhere