“Venom: The Last Dance,” thankfully

Diving into the complex extended universe of allies and foes surrounding the renowned superhero Spider-Man, in 2018, Sony Pictures released the first film of the “Venom” franchise. The movies introduce Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy), a journalist struggling with feelings of bitterness, and the alien symbiote, Venom (Tom Hardy), whose species plans to overtake Earth and who merges with Brock out of shared resentment for Spider-Man. The second movie of the franchise, “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” released in 2021, explores the conflict between Venom and another infamous villain among Spider-Man’s many enemies, Carnage.

In 2024, the entertainment studio released the final component, “Venom: The Last Dance,” finishing off the trilogy with a somewhat tacky plot that may be satisfactory in the context of its prior films but overall failed to meet expectations. Nevertheless, character interactions managed to pull it together into an enjoyable, if not all too intriguing, watch.

Almost right off the bat, “Venom: The Last Dance” sees its two protagonists on the run from both a government agency and a Xenophage, a ferocious alien monster known for hunting symbiotes. The characters travel from Mexico to Las Vegas and at last, to New York City, experiencing a variety of conflicts along the way and unraveling an arguably overcomplicated narrative involving various forms of extraterrestrial life, one menacing supervillain, and the notorious military facility: Area 51.

Plot points are random and incohesive, thrown into the mix in what appears to be weak fan service or else a product of overambition. Some moments feel altogether useless, failing to add anything substantial to the main diegesis. One scene, for example, features convenience store owner Mrs. Chen (Peggy Lu) in a dance sequence with Venom in what appears to be the writers’ attempt at comical absurdity that in my opinion, missed the mark.

Supporting characters, including General Strickland (Chiwetel Ejiofor), scientist Dr. Teddy Paine (Juno Temple), scientist Dr. Sadie Christmas (Clark Backo), and hippy Martin Moon (Rhys Ifansa), are sorely underdeveloped, failing to pull from the deep basin of potential that such a cast offered. Action scenes are uninspired, essentially iterations of just about every other fast-paced chase or hectic brawl littered throughout the superhero and science fiction genre.

Despite its deficiencies, Brock and Venom’s gentle bickering and comedic timing carry the movie from start to end. The film succeeds in exploring the complexities of their relationship amidst the backdrop of disarray, providing a grounding humanity that could have easily been lost in the rough and tumble of the larger plot. As in the first two films, Tom Hardy undoubtedly does justice to his two characters, nailing the mannerisms that fans adore so much of the duo and exhibiting the devotion they have for each other.

While the ending does seem slightly rushed, it is also surprisingly touching, giving tribute to the progression of the characters throughout the series and acknowledging its end. Even with a runtime of one hour and fifty minutes in total, the plot may have been more adequately fleshed out had the movie gone on for longer, or at least aspired to cover fewer ideas.

The final piece in the “Venom” franchise, with all its elaborate and interplanetary lore, such that an average viewer like myself may not be able to fully appreciate, would likely appeal to longtime fans more so than regular movie enjoyers. Though suspenseful music and convincing CGI can stir up some awe, it only gets an audience so far in terms of genuine interest. But hey, if a bit of excitement, danger, and fun is all you need in your entertainment, theaters are wide open.

“Venom: The Last Dance” is rated PG-13. It was released in the United States on October 24, 2024, and is now playing in theaters everywhere, including Regal Majestic Stadium 20 & IMAX, AMC Wheaton Mall 9, and AMC Montgomery 16.