The Sony Spider-Man Universe has been a mixed bag, to say the least. From the critically panned “Morbius” to the disastrous “Madame Web,” expectations weren’t exactly sky-high for “Venom: The Last Dance.” As a fan of the previous “Venom” installments, I approached this trilogy closer with cautious optimism, hoping it would deliver a satisfying conclusion for Eddie Brock and his symbiotic other half. However, after experiencing “The Last Dance,” the question lingers: did Sony aim for a true send-off, or merely another piece in their universe-building puzzle? Sadly, it leans heavily towards the latter, leaving much to be desired.
Having recently rewatched “Venom” and “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” the charm of the first two films lies in their entertaining, albeit flawed, superhero narratives, anchored by Tom Hardy’s dual performance. The original “Venom” was a decent origin story that picked up pace in its second half, despite a generic villain. “Let There Be Carnage,” surprisingly, improved upon its predecessor, leaning into the comedic dynamic between Eddie and Venom, and featuring a memorable performance from Woody Harrelson as Carnage. These films, while not masterpieces, were enjoyable rides, largely due to Hardy’s commitment and the uncomplicated storylines. “Venom: The Last Dance,” unfortunately, deviates from this formula, stumbling into a different territory altogether.
Glimmers of Symbiotic Light: The Positives
It’s important to acknowledge the film isn’t entirely devoid of merit. While the positive aspects are fewer than one would hope, they prevent “The Last Dance” from sinking to the absolute bottom of the superhero movie spectrum.
Hardy’s Endearing Dual Performance
Tom Hardy, despite a noticeably weaker script, remains the heart of the “Venom” franchise. He still manages to skillfully portray both Eddie Brock and Venom, even if the script doesn’t offer him the comedic playground of “Let There Be Carnage.” While moments of boredom seem to seep into his performance, mirroring his character’s own ennui, Hardy’s dedication to these roles is evident.
Stellar Supporting Cast
Chiwetel Ejiofor as Orwell Taylor is a standout. Ejiofor consistently elevates any project he’s involved in, bringing a commanding presence. Similar to his roles as Baron Mordo in the “Doctor Strange” films and Bathurst 2020 in “Infinite,” Ejiofor’s performance in “Venom: The Last Dance” adds a layer of gravitas, making even weak material more engaging.
Visual Spectacle of Symbiotes
The visual effects team deserves credit for bringing Venom and the new symbiotes to life with impressive CGI. While the previous “Venom” films also boasted strong visual effects, “The Last Dance” continues this trend, particularly in the design and rendering of the alien creatures.
Fleeting Moments of Action
The action sequences, while not consistently thrilling, offer some fleeting moments of enjoyment. The “Venom” movies have generally delivered entertaining action, and while “The Last Dance” might be the weakest in this aspect, the initial action scene is noteworthy.
Creative Symbiote Abilities
The film occasionally showcases Venom’s unique abilities in creative ways. The trailers highlighted Venom controlling a horse, which is indeed a memorable scene. Beyond that, the film explores Venom controlling other animals and introduces new symbiotes, adding a layer of novelty to the familiar formula.
Symbiotic Stumble: The Negatives
Unfortunately, the list of positives is overshadowed by a more substantial catalog of shortcomings that plague “Venom: The Last Dance.”
Brock and Venom’s Diminished Dynamic
The core relationship between Eddie Brock and Venom feels underdeveloped and less engaging this time around. While Hardy tries his best, there are instances where his portrayal feels lackluster, mirroring the script’s own fatigue. The witty banter and comedic timing that defined their dynamic in previous films are significantly diminished.
Uninspired New Characters
The introduction of new characters falls flat. Juno Temple’s Dr. Payne is particularly underwhelming, serving little purpose beyond expressing naive trust in Brock, contrasting with Ejiofor’s character’s more rational apprehension regarding the alien threat.
Knull’s Underwhelming Portrayal
Knull, a potentially formidable villain from the comics, is reduced to a generic antagonist. He sends generic alien minions after a MacGuffin, failing to capture the depth and lore associated with the character in the source material. Knull’s representation feels superficial, making him a less compelling villain than even Carlton Drake from the first film.
Wasted Potential of Detective Mulligan
Stephen Graham’s Detective Mulligan, heavily featured in trailers, ends up being a peripheral character. Despite possessing a symbiote and delivering warnings about Knull, Mulligan’s role is minimal and ultimately uninteresting, a significant misstep given the promotional emphasis on his character.
Comedy Deficit
“Venom: The Last Dance” suffers from a severe lack of humor, a stark contrast to the comedic tone of “Let There Be Carnage.” The film manages only a handful of laughs and chuckles, primarily stemming from the Venom-horse scene and some brief exchanges between Brock and Venom. The overall comedic energy is significantly weaker.
Emotional Vacuum
The film fails to evoke any significant emotional response. The underutilization of Brock and Venom, combined with the introduction of extraneous characters, dilutes any potential emotional connection. Even during the heightened stakes of the ending, the narrative fails to create genuine emotional investment.
Technical and Enjoyment Scores
Technically, “Venom: The Last Dance” is competent, earning a 6/10. The visual effects remain strong, the acting is generally solid, and the film functions as a basic cinematic product, despite its flawed plot and screenplay.
However, the enjoyment factor is significantly lower, landing at a disappointing 4/10. Despite wanting to enjoy the film and holding onto hope after revisiting “Let There Be Carnage,” “The Last Dance” simply doesn’t deliver. It’s the weakest entry in the trilogy, echoing the issues that plagued films like “Spider-Man 3” and “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” without reaching their levels of unintentional entertainment.
Conclusion: Wait for Streaming
“Venom: The Last Dance” concludes the trilogy on a low note. In an era increasingly defined by “superhero fatigue,” this film offers nothing new or innovative. While it contains interesting concepts and standout scenes, these are insufficient to salvage the overall disappointment. Perhaps a second viewing might reveal hidden merits, but as it stands, the most prudent recommendation is to wait for “Venom: The Last Dance” to become available on streaming platforms like Netflix or Disney+. This symbiotic swan song, unfortunately, is more of a whimper than a bang.
