The Last Dance Doesn’t Quite Stick the Landing

The most admirable thing about Venom: The Last Dance is that it tries. It really, really tries. It tries to be the goofy buddy comedy we remember from the previous two films. It tries to be the big-budget, big-effects superhero movie audiences are craving. It tries to be heartfelt and emotional. It also tries to be a bridge between the Sony and Marvel worlds, while also introducing new mythology to the franchise and wrapping up this trilogy, all at the same time. In those aims, Venom: The Last Dance is partially successful, which is a great way to describe the film overall as well: “Partially successful.”

When we last saw Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy), the journalist turned fugitive with an alien symbiote living inside him, he was hopping through multiverses in Mexico. That was the end credits of Spider-Man: No Way Home and The Last Dance picks up there, though it never really wraps it up, which is slightly annoying. Now back in his world, Eddie quickly realizes he’s a wanted man and has to go somewhere safe. He and Venom decide New York City, the most densely populated place in the country, is the best place. And so a road trip commences.

Meanwhile, the film itself opens in another world where we see a mysterious, all-powered being named Knull (Andy Serkis) sending his army into the universe to find the key to unlock the prison symbiotes put him in. When he escapes, he’ll destroy everything and everyone. And, wouldn’t you know it? The key is Venom and Eddie. There’s also a story about Dr. Payne (Juno Temple), a scientist who studies symbiotes at Area 55, the even more secret lab below the used-to-be secret lab of Area 51, who acquires symbiotes with the help of General Strickland (Chiwetel Ejiofor), who is also looking for Eddie.

Basically everyone is looking for Eddie which gives The Last Dance more focus than the previous films. That’s a good thing. A bad thing, however, is it also sets new rules that force the biggest strength of the franchise, the interactions between Eddie and Venom, back a bit. The evil aliens can only find Venom and Eddie when they are merged together fully. So their choice to actually become “Venom” is made knowing danger is imminent, a dynamic that’s only half explored. And while there is still plenty of banter between the two, and it’s established that Venom can pop out a bit (like the image above), the new rule dials back much of the over-the-top action we’re used to seeing. There is action, of course, only it’s usually with Tom Hardy by himself talking to a voice, and that only sometimes satisfies in the same way seeing the massive Venom does.

There’s also the introduction of a road-tripping family, led by an alien-loving father played by Rhys Ifans. They’re in the film to give Eddie someone to care about and are more than a little forced in. Also, if you are a Marvel fan you can’t help but scratch your head at Ifans and Ejiofor appearing in the film not as the characters they play in other Marvel movies. Sure, they are both great actors, but it’s another good example of The Last Dance going for something and not quite getting it right.

On the other hand, the movie also does several things that absolutely shouldn’t work and kind of do. There are multiple sequences set to the likes of Queen, David Bowie, ABBA, and Maroon 5 that are each ridiculous in their own unique ways. None of them really fit into the rest of the movie and yet are enjoyable simply for their absurdity. The Maroon 5 one in particular, which happens at the very end of the film, really won me over and gave me that “Yeah, this movie isn’t great, but I kind of like it anyway” vibe.

That specific thought was also largely influenced by the film’s third act, where captured symbiotes, the secret base, evil aliens, military, science, and more all come together. This extended action scene is so silly, surprising, and fun, it almost swayed me on the rest of the movie. I don’t want to get into too many specifics for fear of ruining anything but the sequence is not only exciting, it provides payoff for some of the more out-there, random stuff in the rest of the movie and you’re relieved.

However, The Last Dance has set up so much with its new symbiote lore that as this big final battle is happening, you realize the movie isn’t going to wrap everything up. It’s not going to answer all your questions. And then, it doesn’t. In a trilogy-capper, that’s never a great feeling, and while The Last Dance certainly has a decent, satisfying ending, you do leave it feeling like too much story was ignored for a possible follow-up, whatever or whenever that may be.

Mostly, The Last Dance feels like exactly that for Tom Hardy, a chance to play this wild character one more time and really milk it for all its worth. He gets to be on screen a lot and the way he shows fear but also adoration for Venom is hilarious and touching. At every turn, we can feel the physical and mental toll having an alien inside him is taking on Eddie. Which, in turn, sets the film up for some surprising touching moments towards the end. All in all, it’s just a great performance. Unfortunately, we can’t say that for everyone else in the movie.

While Ifans does his best with the limited role he’s given, Temple and Ejiofor seem wholly out of place and unenthused to be there. They’re given awful dialogue to deliver which they do seemingly out of obligation. You almost understand Temple’s presence because the film gives her a bit of a backstory— though it’s superfluous to the plot—and some potential moving ahead, but Ejiofor has played similar roles plenty of times before and is usually much, much better. You hate to say it because both actors are so good, but The Last Dance probably would’ve been better without them in it. The characters don’t add a lot and the performances leave much to be desired.

In the end Venom: The Last Dance fits into a superhero category that’s become more and more prevalent over the past few years. This is not a movie made to attract new fans. It was made for fans of the original two films and basically that’s it. So, if you like those two films, you will most certainly like The Last Dance. If you didn’t, you won’t. And if you were in the middle on them like me, that’s how you’ll feel.

Venom: The Last Dance does it all without nailing any of it. Whether you choose to focus on the fun parts—like the goofy asides and third act—or the bad ones—superfluous story and bad acting—is ultimately up to you. But, like I said, you always know it’s trying and that’s at least something.

Written and directed by Kelly Marcel, from a story by Marcel and Hardy, Venom: The Last Dance is in theaters Friday

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