PREMISE
Eddie and Venom, on the run, face pursuit from both worlds. As circumstances tighten, they’re compelled to make a heart-wrenching choice that could end their symbiotic partnership.
THE GOOD STUFF
Tom Hardy – I don’t exactly know what there is to say about what Hardy does in these films that hasn’t been said already. He completely committed to the slapstick comedy aspect of everything. Though he may be coasting towards the paycheck with these venom films, he does seem not to help himself but to create a character that is enjoyable and sympathetic, all the while understanding that he is to turn it up to level 10 on the cheesy s***, and it’s completely justifiable.
It’d be strange to refer to Venom as his signature role, given that Hardy is one of the most versatile actors in the game, and it’s relieving that his version of this character is officially (?) retired. Now, he can return to doing some of the heavier material he became known for. And everybody benefits in that case.
The cheese – venom movies are cheesy and silly. They are self-aware B-level tentpole films, and to me, it’s always been the most endearing trait of the trilogy. The first two films (especially the second one) ordered two extra slices of cheese, which was necessary to be acceptable. The one-liners were too on the nose, the comedy was hit and miss and really didn’t have any direction, jokes just kind of seemed to be out of place, and for the most part, there wasn’t really a world built around the Venom character like there are for literally every other superhero movie…outside of Sony superhero films.
(Seriously, maybe it’s just a Sony thing to not want to do literally anything regarding world-building for any of the superhero movies that they’ve made so far outside of the Andy Garfield SPIDER-MAN films… but I digress)
Don’t get me wrong. There’s plenty of cheese in this film, but it’s dialed back because it’s obvious that they are trying to close this thing out with some coherency, and that was really refreshing to see.
THE BAD STUFF
THE BALLBREAKING – I was hoping that this movie wouldn’t reference what I consider the biggest missed opportunity in the history of the MCU. But it did. And referencing that missed opportunity temporarily put me in a state of annoyance that took me a couple of minutes to shake myself out of. That it did so in the last movie of this trilogy really… grinds my gears, as they say. I won’t go off on too much of a rant about this because I could really go on for a long time as to how much I hate that this instance even happened for it to have zero payoff.
THE UGLY STUFF
THE BIG BAD—Because I am a fan of these VENOM movies, I couldn’t help but go in with a sense of curiosity that had me search the web for responses to this movie. All of these responses couldn’t help but overly praise the “big bad” villain of this film, Knull. After seeing this film, I can’t help but ask myself… What the f*** exactly was so hypeworthy about this guy?
Without giving too much away, the hype for Knull reminded me of the kind of hype Supreme Leader Snoke had in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. And when it comes to the hype-to-payoff ratio, both of these villains kind of pay off in a very…
I can’t really elaborate on that, but I will say if you know, you know.
**************
I’m on an island here with this, but I liked the venom trilogy. I say that not being a comic book guy, and I say that as a man who understands that these films are aware that they are B-level kind of schlock. If you go in just eating popcorn and wanting brainless fun, these Venom films delivered by being entertaining. Sometimes, superhero movies don’t have to get deep. Sometimes they can just be goofy and fun. And these films were that. The definition of turn your brain off kind of entertainment.
The superhero fatigue that currently exists is active because of the projection of self-seriousness and multi-cinematic universe hype that very few superhero franchises can live up to. The Venom trilogy never did that and gave you what it promised.Â
VENOM: THE LAST DANCE is in theaters now
