VENOM: THE LAST DANCE Is an Absurd, Entertaining Farewell to Symbrock

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As a seasoned gamer and pop culture aficionado with a soft spot for over-the-top action flicks, I found myself utterly entertained by “Venom: The Last Dance”. This movie is the cinematic equivalent of a well-timed one-liner in a game of Fortnite – unexpected, hilarious, and totally inappropriate for the situation.

The timeless “MENDOOZZZZAAAAAA!!!” scene from The Simpsons stands out as an iconic moment in pop culture due to its unique blend of seriousness and intentional humor. This scene is a hilarious, exaggerated spoof of action movies, yet the actors within the McBain film portray it with utter sincerity. Remarkably, this same tone mirrors that of Venom: The Last Dance. This film boasts solid acting, is engaging, and entertaining, never allowing logic or good taste to hinder enjoyment. The characters in the movie do and say things without a shred of explanation, yet they are delivered with complete sincerity, which only adds to the humor. If not for its flat CGI finale, Venom: The Last Dance would satisfy fans of the first two films who seek a fitting farewell to the Symbrock. This also explains why critics of the initial installments won’t find it appealing.

Venom: The Final Journey is a unique blend of alien invasion and buddy road trip. The malevolent mastermind behind the symbiotes, Knull, has discovered an opportunity to break free from the prison constructed by his own creatures. Crucial to this escape is a recently created codex hidden within Venom and Eddie Brock. To reclaim it, Knull dispatches his monstrous underlings, more powerful than any seen before, to hunt it down.

This film is a blend of action and humor with a touch of emotion, though there’s room for more sentimentality. The tender instances of Symbrock’s love and introspection are impactful when they occur, but their scarcity becomes noticeable in the climax when Eddie and Venom are confronted with the potential dissolution of their bond. It seems that a couple of crucial scenes were missed during the storytelling, making the final moment feel incomplete. The film’s climactic scene is still compelling due to the strong foundation built through their relationship across previous films, but it could have been even more poignant with additional development along the way.

The third act, in truth, offers an exciting moment that’s worth looking forward to. However, it’s unfortunate that this thrilling sequence disintegrates into a lengthy, dull battle scene which is too dimly lit to appreciate fully. Despite the film’s knack for delivering clever one-liners, this part becomes incredibly dull and arguably the weakest aspect of the movie. If not for these witty comments, the scene would be utterly forgettable. Fortunately, the narrative improves when it switches from alien battles to focusing on Eddie and Venom.

Despite an unsatisfying third act, it’s not enough to ruin the overall enjoyment of the movie Venom: The Last Dance. The initial two acts are delightfully bizarre and absurd. Characters in the film converse with the same zest as Scrooge telling McDuff about his boat “The Live-4-Ever”, until a hitman ends Scrooge’s life (symbolizing the universe’s fate at risk). In this movie, characters are relieved of common sense or logical thinking regardless of the circumstances. They perform actions that serve the film’s purpose, ensuring the audience has a good time.

In a straightforward and engaging manner: The Last Dance manages to pull off its unconventional style primarily because actors Juno Temple and Chiwetel Ejiofor refrain from making any self-conscious winks at the audience. Though they seem fully aware of the film’s quirky nature, they never explicitly acknowledge it. Instead, they play their roles with utmost sincerity, even as they portray characters who engage in actions that no reasonable person would undertake.

As a gamer, I’ve got to say, Rhys Ifans nails it as the eccentric alien hunter hippie, completely immersed in his role. He’s always a blast to watch, even when his character seems a bit off the wall without him realizing it. The thing is, none of the characters in this flick, whether they’re hardcore military types or weary travelers, never make decisions that one would call “smart.” Yet, they don’t seem to realize it. This intentional silliness, without acknowledging the absurdity, is what makes Venom: The Last Dance a near-perfect comedy. A hilarious comedy, indeed!

One star who is never funny, though, is returning franchise alum Stephen Graham. He’s so dark and so good I fear most people are going to overlook his performance because he’s so believable. He’s the flipside to the same Tom Hardy coin. Yet again, Hardy delivers an incredible performance that is so natural and convincing it’s easy to forget there’s not actually a black goo alien inside of him.

As a hardcore gamer, I’ve got to say that Venom in this movie is hands down the funniest, most badass alien symbiote to grace the silver screen yet! This guy is not just lethal with his biting chops, but he also slays with his witty one-liners. Before this film, I was already a fan, but now my admiration for him has skyrocketed. He’s still unbeatable in “The Last Dance,” and the Venom series continues to be part of one of the most consistently entertaining movie franchises ever created. Each installment aims to provide a thrilling cinematic experience, and they all deliver in spades!

If you enjoyed the initial two “Venom” movies, you’ll likely appreciate “The Last Dance”. Conversely, if you didn’t take a shine to those films, chances are you won’t be fond of this one either. However, I can’t fathom anyone not appreciating a genuine “McBain” movie featuring a symbiote and superior acting talent.

⭐ (3.5 of 5)

Mikey Walsh, a staff writer at TopMob, seems to share a great rapport with Venom and can be found on Bluesky @burgermike. He’s also active in discussions where the Targaryen kings are being ranked.

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2024-10-23 22:02