Venom: The Last Dance

Sony's third entry in its Venom focused series with Tom Hardy, Venom: The Last Dance, sees Eddie Brock and his unhinged symbiote travel to New York to prove his innocence after being framed for what happened in the last movie. It won't be easy as they're hunted down by creatures sent by Knull, the creator of the symbiotes trapped by them in a prison that can only be opened by the duo, and the American military who wants to experiment and use the alien entity. By this point, taking any of these films seriously is not the best way to watch, and especially with this third entry with its rather thin plot compared to the last two but Kelly Marcel's writing and direction knowing it works best by being over the top, silly, and rather stupid. The action scenes are well done while also being incredibly energetic and unhinged at times, especially with some unique symbiotic abilities that give the film really great visual effects. Even when the films get stupider, Tom Hardy still gives a fun and engaging performance, equal parts portmanteau farce and near emotional breakdown. Newer cast members like Chiwetel Ejiofor and Juno Temple also provide strong performances, but in a more serious way that makes Hardy really stand out. For a final entry in a trilogy, it does feel like not having Michelle Williams and Reid Scott return feel a bit empty. And by adding a big character like Knull with a post credit scene and played by Andy Serkis feels redundant for a final entry. Venom: The Last Dance may be a very stupid movie, but it's a very stupid movie that knows how to have fun. Over all: 75%

2024 top list so far:

1. Dune: Part 2

2. The Wild Robot

3. Saturday Night

4. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

5. Deadpool & Wolverine

6. Transformers One

7. A Quiet Place: Day One

8. Inside Out 2

9. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

10. The Fall Guy

11. MaXXXine

12. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

13. Abigail

14. Monkey Man

15. Late Night with the Devil

16. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

17. Alien: Romulus

18. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

19. The Book of Clarence

20. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

21. Drive-Away Dolls

22. Joker: Folie à Deux

23. Kung Fu Panda 4

24. Lisa Frankenstein

25. Argylle

26. Venom: The Last Dance

27. Mean Girls 2024