After a five-year hiatus, Ruben Fleischer (“Gangster Squad”) returns to the director’s chair to deliver “Venom,” the first installment in Sony’s next attempt at a universe. A “Venom” film has been in the works for more than a decade, after the disappointing representation of the character in 2007’s “Spider-Man 3.” Fans were hopeful that this 2018 film would bring justice to the popular Spider-Man antagonist. Anticipation grew when promotional materials guaranteed a Venom that was bigger, badder and more accurate toward its source material. Eyebrows were raised, however, when “Venom” was announced to be outside of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This meant no chance of seeing Tom Holland (“Avengers: Infinity War”) appearing as the iconic Spider-Man. The film’s PG-13 rating also cast doubt on the project, as it seemed to contradict the character’s violent tendencies. At the end of the day, “Venom” is an entertaining romp held back by extensive issues and problems.
Our main hero is Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy, “The Revenant”), a down-on-his-luck investigative journalist who becomes attached to an extraterrestrial symbiote after becoming embroiled with a corporate conspiracy. In terms of performance, Hardy is commendable as the constantly stressed and awkward Brock. His dynamic with the alien symbiote is the central highlight of the film, as the banter between Brock and the amorphous goop elicit the most laughs in the 112-minute picture. The same cannot be said for the supporting cast, which includes Michelle Williams (“I Feel Pretty”) as Brock’s ex-girlfriend, Riz Ahmed (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”) as the film’s Machiavellian antagonist and Jenny Slate (“Hotel Artemis”) as a whistleblowing scientist. Bluntly, all three performances are either too dull or more uninteresting than a Ken Burns documentary on traffic signs. Imagine this: Hardy harbors better chemistry with a sentient CGI ink blob than he does with his own girlfriend. Ahmed’s Drake character is the obvious corporate baddie viewers have seen over and over again. It is cliché at this point to criticize the villains in Marvel films, but after seeing Thanos in “The Avengers: Infinity War” and Killmonger in “Black Panther,” Carlton Drake is more easily dismissible than a rabbit in a snowstorm.
Despite the disappointing use of its supporting cast, “Venom” does shine when it comes to action sequences. Witnessing Venom annihilate an entire room of henchmen is a sight to behold as the symbiote acts on its own accord. This unpredictability ensures activity that remains fresh and exciting, as the audience and Brock himself have no idea of the symbiote’s next plan of action. The appearance of Venom is also impressive and will please comic book readers from far and wide. Unlike “Spider-Man 3’s” Venom, the monster here is a looming terror that will not hesitate to bite heads off.
Despite this, it is a shame that “Venom” is stunted by its measly PG-13 rating. “Deadpool” and “Logan” have proven that R-rated superhero films can be financially successful and enjoy critical and audience satisfaction. Venom is a character that warrants an R-rating. It would have also solved the film’s problems regarding choppy editing and safe kills. The utilization of the Venom symbiote may be cool, but everything is played too safe. Venom bites the heads off numerous goons for sure, but the payoff is either a quick cut or a body promptly tossed in the shadows. For a character that looks like it can tear people to shreds, paper is likely to cut more than a strike by Venom. In short, the action is creatively impressive, but it is neutered by MPAA guidelines.
“Venom” is far from a bad film. The relationship between Brock and the symbiote is the highlight, and the action, while toned down, offers unique creativity. “Venom” is already dividing audiences and critics for good reason. It is not a complete train wreck, but the film does have a lot of untapped potential. Those who want a fun night at the movies should definitely check out “Venom.” Just do not expect anything groundbreaking.
Image from Sony Pictures Entertainment via YouTube
