REVIEW: VENOM - THE LAST DANCE

3.5/5

They Are Venom

109 Mins. Starring: Tom Hardy, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, Rhys Ifans, Stephen Graham, Peggy Lu, Clark Backo, Alanna Ubach & Andy Serkis. Screenplay: Kelly Marcel. Director: Kelly Marcel. In: Theatres. 

They saved the best dance for last. When 'Venom's' lashing tongue, licked and launched its way on to the scene in 2018, a fan favourite finally had his film. Although the screenplay and CGI weren't as oil-slick as the symbiotes skin, it certainly stuck. Thanks to the charisma between 'Legend' Tom Hardy and...well...himself. Yep! You best believe that demonic voice is him, too, as Eddie Brock deals with one parasite that won't leave the body with a round of antibiotics and a good night's rest. It's like your neighbour may as well not turn his music down. Sounding like a chopper barrelling down the hilly streets of San Francisco. Cheers were drawn for the ride of the 'Let There Be Carnage' super sequel, with Woody Harrelson as a villain almost as iconic as our anti-hero. But now it's time for 'The Last Dance' and we're not talking about a Michael Jordan and Chicago Bulls documentary. Although, 'The City' of the Golden State Warriors iconic t-shirt is back.

Dance, dance, dance like Murakami for the previews big in Japan this week. Mixed reviews and fanboys and girls have been met with big returns at the box office already. The kind that the 'Joker' can't even sing for, alongside Lady Gaga. "In Association With Marvel" seems to be the new curse for all Sony superhero movies in the Spider-Man universe that don't want to be the next 'Madame Web', or 'Morbius', disappearing in the same flash as that hilarious photo turned meme of the only other guy in the cinema for the films release. Neither of those movies, like 'Folie à Deux', were as truly terrible as they say. But this symbiote is on a whole other strand of storytelling. Making those other spidey senses on the way look as convincing as...well...my Halloween costume this year. Check Instagram if you really want to see your paunchy neighbourhood Spider-Man.

We all know that Venom is more than that terrific Eminem track, or some of the promotional product placement, rapping with Busta Rhymes, or spitting hot fire on Hot Ones (he needs some milk). Hardy (also on story duty) and his boy just make that much of a classic and compelling superpowered couple. For some reason it just works and what could have been the bane of 'The Dark Knight Rises' actor's life is actually the serious 'Bronson' and 'Lawless' actor just having good, dirty mouth (hearing Venom blaspheme is hilarious) fun. Even if a classic cameo in 'Deadpool 3' is looking like those Wolverine rumours have left the body like a former Topher Grace host. But whether it be Venom frogs, fish, or lions, tigers and bears (oh my!), Hardy and Eddie have made this third act of the trilogy like that horse drawing meme. And just wait until they take a ride on one that is anything but pale.

How fast can they make this franchise go without killing it? Well, there's only one way to find out as you witness the epic conclusion. It's all love over here, with a heart-filled and warming buddy comedy of the superhero genre that just may leave you with more than tears of laughter. Especially in the last epic assemble. This may be Eddie's last dance to a sweet soundtrack. And that's a real shame. We really wish we could have seen the two Tom H's get it on ("never say never"). Being comic teased after that 'No Way Home' post-credits scene that is called back to here with madness for the multiverse. The sequels have already shown there are more spider symbiotes than Iron Man has suits. And this movies own post-credits teases more with a legendary villain motion-captured by the director of the last film, Caesar ('Planet Of The Apes') and Gollum ('Lord Of The Rings') himself, Andy Serkis.

Yet in this circus act, scripted and directed (a dynamic debut) by Kelly Marcel (the first film and 'Fifty Shades' film writer) offers even more symbiotes for the devil and a class cast behind the bullish M.J. of this last dance. An electric and always great Juno Temple is joined by the early Christmas of Clark Backo in the lab coats. And it's great to see 'Peaky Blinders' co-star Stephen Graham back, and doing his best, "no peace" 'Independence Day' impression. Like it is the corner store to Las Vegas of Peggy Lu's Mrs. Chen having the real fond last dance (are they gonna get it on?). But if you thought it was just fellow Bond favourite Aaron Taylor-Johnson's Quicksilver (don't get us started with 'Agatha All Along') making the multiverse a maddening crowd with 'Kraven The Hunter', then a wizarding villain in 'Doctor Strange's' Chiwetel Ejiofor and the lizard of 'The Amazing Spider-Man's' Rhys Ifans (betrothed beautifully to Alanna Ubach and Area 51) are here too. Although, that's it for creepy-crawlies. But with amazing action and spectacular special effects, who need a spider in this verse? This may be Hardy's last dance (thanks for the memories), but Venom is hardly "knull" and void. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Venom: Let There Be Carnage', 'Spider-Man: No Way Home', 'Kraven The Hunter'.