‘Venom: The Last Dance’ Emerges as a Top Contender

The early reception for “Venom: The Last Dance”has resulted in a modest 37% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Having viewed the film directed by Kelly Marcel, I can confidently declare that this installment promises pure entertainment.

Tom Hardy returns to his role as Eddie Brock, the ex-investigative journalist who has shared his life with the symbiote Venom for over a year now. The film picks up directly from where we left off with Eddie and Venom in “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”Remember the moment when they seemed to be a part of that story, only to realize it was just a tease?

“The Last Dance”embodies the farewell of Eddie and Venom, as Tom Hardy mentioned this may be the concluding chapter of their journey. He implied that only a confrontation with Spider-Man could bring him back, a theme echoed in the film. Eddie finds himself accused of causing the death of Patrick Mulligan (played by Stephen Graham) due to Carnage’s actions. Thus, Eddie and Venom embark on a flight from justice, only to discover they are being tracked by a Xenophage.

Essentially, this movie revolves around Eddie and Venom on the run without Venom taking full control of Eddie’s body. That’s the gist of it! The villain Knull aims to escape from the imprisonment enforced by the symbiotes, which requires a key residing within Eddie and Venom. The Xenophage is intent on retrieving this key for Knull.

Despite the spectacle and chaos characteristic of the previous two films, “The Last Dance”impressively keeps things uncomplicated. Eddie and Venom are determined to stay united and survive, while others are intent on tearing them apart. This dynamic excludes Knull and the Xenophage, who require them alive for their own purposes. That’s essentially the plot!

At Its Core, It’s a Love Story

eddie and venom looking at each other — (Sony Pictures)

Sure, one could nitpick at the inconsistencies in this film forever. Why is Dr. Payne (Juno Temple) wearing her deceased brother’s shirt? What is up with Rex Strickland’s (Chiwetel Ejiofor) character? And does Rhys Ifans’ presence suggest that this Sony universe’s Spider-Man isn’t played by Andrew Garfield? All of these are fair questions.

However, what draws me to the “Venom”franchise is the sheer enjoyment, and “The Last Dance”delivers just that: an entertaining experience. Expecting audiences to dissect every layer of the plot isn’t necessary. We witness bizarre science and a flurry of random antics throughout, then suddenly, Venom breaks into an entire dance routine with Mrs. Chen (Peggy Lu), and you find yourself swept away, forgetting how we got there.

Eddie Brock’s running gag in this film revolves around his inability to keep shoes on his feet. He initially destroys a Croc, loses a cowboy boot, receives peculiar sandals from Martin (Ifans) that end up soaked, and ultimately opts for dress shoes he wishes to preserve. To me, this epitomizes peak humor and cinema.

This narrative at its heart is about Eddie and Venom. Removing all the extraneous plot points, what stands out is their essential need for one another. All three films in this series are tales of love. While they may not be groundbreaking, they inject a vibrant energy into the superhero genre.

“Venom: The Last Dance”presents a wonderfully chaotic conclusion to Eddie and Venom’s saga. I still can’t help but wish they would have shared a kiss, though.

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