MOVIE SCENE CANADA
VENOM: THE LAST DANCE
I Sony Pictures Canada I October 25, 2024 I 110 mins. I
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39%
Starring: Tom Hardy, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, Rhys Ifans, Peggy Lu,
Alanna Ubach, Stephen Graham
Directed By: Kelly Marcel
* As of 10/24/24
In the final film in the trilogy, Eddie and Venom are on the run. Hunted by both of their worlds and with the net closing in, the duo are forced into a devastating decision that will bring the curtains down on Venom and Eddie's last dance.
REVIEW BY: Darren Zakus - 10/16/24
RATING 3.5 out of 5
Venom: The Last Dance saves the best outing for Eddie Brock and Venom for last, delivering an exciting, hilarious and heartfelt swan song for Tom Hardy who shines from start to finish with his best performance of the trilogy.
Outside of the main Spider-Man films, the Sony Marvel films have been a mixed bag to say the least. Morbius is one of the worst comic book films ever made, and Madame Web despite being disastrous is so cheesy that it’s quite possibly the greatest guilty pleasure film of the year, but the Venom films have been consistently entertaining. With their infectious and hilarious buddy comedy energy between Eddie Brock and everyone’s favourite symbiotic Venom, the films have overcome a simplistic story that leaves lots to be explored with laughter and flashy CGI alien battles, and Venom: The Last Dance does not shake up the series’ pre-established formula. Maintaining consistency while upping the emotional stakes for the concluding chapter of the trilogy, Tom Hardy and his co-writer and director Kelly Marcel give us the entertaining superhero buddy road trip film that is bursting with laughter, action and heart that will more than satisfy fans of the series.
The first Venom film had more story and not enough buddy comedy energy between Eddie and Venom, and the second film had less story but more of the buddy comedy that fans wanted from its lead characters; but the third film is the ideal marriage of the best parts of each of its predecessors. Picking up moments after the events of the second film, and after Eddie and Venom’s quick trip to Earth-616 thanks to the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Eddie and Venom find themselves on the run after being the prime suspect Detective Mulligan while also being hunted down by aliens trying to release the symbiote creator Knull. There are introductions of new characters and elements to the Venom mythology that have not been previously explored in other films added to up the ante for the concluding chapter, and though these elements of the story are rushed and uneven at times and Knull is merely teased for a future larger role in the Sony Spider-Man Universe, Marcel and Hardy’s story nails the Eddie and Venom dynamic perfectly. The comedic banter is hilarious and without question the highlight of the film, while the emotional undercurrent of their character arcs takes over as both Eddie and Venom come to terms with the fact that this is one battle that cannot be won without sacrifice. It forces them to truly reconcile their differences, come to terms with what they truly mean to each other, and become the hero (or lethal protector) that they always aspired to be. While Hardy has not ruled out future appearances as Eddie within the Sony Spider-Man Universe should the right opportunity, what he and Marcel have created is the perfect sendoff for Eddie and Venom’s story that will get fans of the series emotional and maybe shedding the odd tear by the end of the third act.
Some actors were meant to play specific characters, and that is what the role of Eddie Brock/Venom is to Hardy. Hardy is truly a tough individual on the exterior, which makes him perfect for Eddie Brock. His rugged charm creates the bad boy vibe that perfectly matches the persona of the infamous anti-hero that Venom is, and his comedic timing as he creates the banter back and forth between Eddie and Venom is pitch perfect, but Hardy truly pours his heart and soul into his for now final outing as Eddie and Venom. Underneath his rough exterior, Hardy’s love for the character informs the conclusion of Eddie’s character arc over the three films that completes his hero’s journey with a heartwarming bromance between Eddie and Venom. Without question, it’s Hardy’s best performance in the role that is the beating heart of the entire film, cementing his portrayal of Eddie and Venom as one of the most memorable superhero performances in recent years.
Without question, this is Hardy’s film and the screenplay is one hundred percent focused on his character, but there are some shining moments in the supporting cast. While the story does not leave room for Michelle Williams and Reid Scott’s Ann and Dan to return, Peggy Lu’s Mrs. Chen returns and has the most fun she has had in the franchise to date with her Vegas sequence, leading to one of the film’s most entertaining moments. Juno Temple is one of those actresses who never fails to delight thanks to her sweet personality, and even with an underwritten character of Dr. Payne she is given, Temple is utterly charming in the role. Chiwetel Ejiofor, despite being a great actor, sadly has very little to do as the stereotypical military figure Rex Strickland who is too focused on his mission to understand the bigger picture and comes across as rather flat. Rhys Ifans generates some great laughs as the alien loving hippie Martin Moon that Eddie and Venom meet in their travels, and while Andy Serkis is a great motion capture actor, with the few minutes of screen time he is given as Knull, we don’t get to see any of his potential as the character.
Given that the film features multiple alien symbiotes fighting throughout, CGI is vital to the success of the storytelling and the entertainment of the audience, and the visual effects artists have outdone themselves. It’s great CGI, capturing the threat of the alien symbiotes and delivering exciting action sequences throughout that is littered with carnage and laughter, especially in the film’s spectacle filled final act. Surprisingly, the gore and violence is pretty intense and graphic, pushing the extent of its PG-13 rating to its absolute limits. But when it’s balanced against Eddie and Venom’s buddy comedy energy and a soundtrack full of great needle drops from artists like Queen, Cat Stevens, David Bowie, Post Malone, and a A*Teens ABBA remix, its playful fun with the gore and violence only heightening the emotional stakes of the story.
And for any Marvel fans, yes there are two post credit scenes so make sure to stay seated… even if I swear that Venom: The Last Dance has the longest credits of all time running over fifteen minutes in length. So you have tons of time to get up, stretch your legs, and get back to your cinema to catch that final scene.
Part of the journey is the end, and saying goodbye is always emotional, but Tom Hardy and Kelly Marcel have conjured up the perfect farewell for Eddie Brock and Venom in Venom: The Last Dance. Capturing what made each of its predecessors’ hits with audiences and playing to the series’ strength, this final road trip for Eddie and Venom is truly entertaining and is never short of laughter, action, excitement and the heart that make Eddie and Venom one of the most iconic antiheroes in the Marvel comics. With a truly spectacular and heartfelt performance from Tom Hardy that accomplishes everything he wanted to do with the characters of Eddie Brock and Venom, Venom: The Last Dance is pure entertainment from start to finish that is not only everything that fans have come to love about the series and characters, but an emotional farewell for Tom Hardy and fans alike to everyone’s favourite symbiote.