VENOMENAL? NOT QUITE.


I rarely watch movies on the first day of its release. Yes, I do sometimes; usually Superstar Rajini’s movies (not all of them!), or something I got super-hyped waiting for—like The Batman (the new one). This time was a fluke thanks once again to my friendly-neighbourhood single-screen theatre, Vinayaka, where the plush sofas are only ₹200. Classic “yeah, why not” situation. Plus I hate having to spend ₹500 or more at the multiplexes for no reason. I’m El Cheapo that way. And the theatre is as good as any as I will personally certify.

Venom: The Last Dance was a bittersweet send-off for Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock, an initially reluctant host for the symbiote called Venom for those who don’t know and can’t care enough. Through two movies Eddie and Venom become one (literally and figuratively) and grow a conscience as well as a healthy friendship. It is as endearing as it is whacky and weird; and that’s the whole point of Venom. You enjoy the mayhem and the wit in equal part, and there’s plenty of both in the earlier two films to set this one up for the grand finale.

As far as grand finales go, this one was a bit underwhelming for me though. Eddie looks tired throughout and I found it difficult to think that it wasn’t Tom himself on screen, tired of the franchise. If reports are to be believed, he has declared, in no uncertain terms, that he wants nothing to do with anything Venom anymore. (Even though he actually co-wrote this one).

Back to the movie. So Eddie and Venom are on the run from some unsavory characters (they’re too tiresome and cliched to describe!), but, as fate would have it, not far enough from being spotted. In a nutshell, the baddies zero-in on the two of them in Las Vegas, as they are enroute to NYC to be where the er… umm… Statue of Liberty stands. Yeah, that cliched. Well, mayhem follows, blah blah blah, Area 51, explosions, alien attacks, symbiotes-are-friends, boom boom, kapow, etc etc.

Without going into spoiler details, the only way to stop evil from taking over is by separating Eddie from Venom. And that’s the crux of the bittersweetness of the ending. Throughout their road trip from Mexico to NYC, the movie presents the softer side of Venom and Eddie, and the apparent sweetness of their relationship. It is done well too, with enough for a little lump in the throat in a couple of scenes. Nothing to make you weep, but just enough for you to acknowledge it. Well done.

But that’s it. It is as studio-made as they come, formulaic to the core, and scripted by the book, with familiar tropes and completely predictable goings-on. But wait! As far as sweet goodbyes go, this is right there. Why should you watch it? For Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock once again, and an awwww appearance by none other than Mrs Chen (remember her?). Apart from Venom, of course. And a montage at the end with glimpses from the two earlier outings of Venom.

That’s all. No spoilers. The rest you can figure out in the movie. If you want to finish off the trilogy, that is. Otherwise, it’s a decent movie to give the miss.