Venom: The Last Dance

The first Venom film was a huge financial success and gave Sony the momentum to create their own string of superhero films set around the Spider-Man films but without actually featuring the famous webslinger himself. And, while the reviews were mixed, I kind of had a fun time with that film and it really benefitted from a great Tom Hardy acting against a CGI mutant that has taken refuge within him. Unfortunately, the sequel was a total mess, then came Morbius and Madame Web (not sure I'll ever want watch that) which left me feeling as if this venture had run its course. Kraven isn't looking much better but here we have Venom: The Last Dance. Was this meant to be a trilogy and is it the last one for Hardy? Money talks but that's how they've tried to market this...

Eddie Brock and Venom are now laying low Mexico following the events of the last film but quickly learn that they have been framed for the death of Stephen Graham's detective and must try to clear their name. Meanwhile, Graham's character is very much alive but in a secret underground government facility where his body has been taken over by a new symbiote, or something, and some distant threat has sent vicious monsters to Earth to kill Venom for a MacGuffin inside him.

Much like the films before, Venom: The Last Dance isn't all that strong when it comes to the story but it really does shine whenever director Kelly Marcel let's Hardy loose as he fights and bickers with Venom. Here, we have some fun comedic moments and surprisingly a little to heart to the film. Everything else works just about fine, or much better in case of that last Venom film, even if it does stray a little two far beyond the 90 minute mark.

There is also quite a solid cast with Rhys Ifans providing some good humour as an alien loving hippy hoping to catch a glimpse of some extra-terrestrials. Juno Temple gets a surprisingly fleshed-out role as scientist studying the symbiotes in an area that probably didn't need so much backstory as this doesn't really go anywhere all that essential to the plot, and then there's Chiwetel Ejiofor, arguably working with material that is far beneath his talents, who is also on solid form. It's just unfortunate that outside of the Eddie/Venom interactions that this is still quite a fun yet forgettable action flick which does drag a little towards the end. Some of the action is fun but the climax just feels too messy to flow in a way that is satisfying. 

If you enjoyed the previous films or just the first one then Venom: The Last Dance will have something here for you with some popcorn entertainment. Hardy is great again but it's just a shame that this trilogy didn't live up to all its potential when the lead is on such great form. I'm sure there will be more but I just hope they find a stronger script as a basis to start from.