One of the biggest concerns when the first trailer of Venom was shown was how would this depiction of the popular comic book anti-hero is presented after such a failure with Spider-Man 3 over a decade ago. Also since it’s not “part” of the MCU, would there be any connection to Spider-Man whatsoever? Warning, spoilers ahead…
I’m happy to say that one of those concerns was met with great ease with Tom Hardy playing the role of Eddie Brock who comes into contact with the parasite (just don’t’ call him that) of Venom. Eddie plays a freelance investigative journalist who is trying to make a comeback from a scandal and accidentally becomes a host for an alien symbiote named Venom giving Eddie super powers. Eddie discovers there is more to his newfound powers when he uncovers a deeper secret within the organization, Life Foundation and its CEO Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed) that brought these symbiotes from space to use here on earth for their own benefit. Fitting the formula of most films of this genre, Eddie/Venom must fight to save earth from certain annihilation from a symbiote named Riot whose host is Carlton Drake.
From the moment Venom joins Eddie, the film take off and the CGI is quite good as well as the action sequences. There is also a nice comedic tone that Hardy pulls off without it taking away from overall tone of the film. Sometimes the infusion of comedy takes too much away from the film making it feel like two different films. However, director Ruben Fleischer does a good job of balancing the humor and the darker tones of the screenplay.
The supporting cast led by Michelle Williams as Eddie’s former love interest, Anne Weying grounds the storytelling and keeps it from getting too chaotic. As for who this ties in if at all to Spider-Man, it does and it doesn’t. I suggest you stay for the ending credits and more will be shown that adds to the big picture that more films are on the way. It also perhaps gives us a clue to how the character of Spider-Man may fit in.
Directed by: Ruben Fleischer
Starring: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed, Scott Haze, Reid Scott, Jenny Slate, Wayne Pere and Woody Harrelson
PG13 112 mins
VENOM **** (out of 5 stars)
May the Dork be with you,
JPB
The Dork Knight
