The first Venom was an accidental miracle - as a straight superhero movie it was a failure. As an odd couple comedy featuring a movie star in both lead roles, it was weirdly perfect.
The sequel found its groove by adopting the structure of a romantic comedy, with our heroes falling apart and coming back together to defeat a seemingly perfect pair of villainous lovers.
After an entry that felt like it had reduced the franchise to its key elements, The Last Dance seems to have ignored all the lessons learned from its predecessors.
Where Part 2 was almost too simple, this one is cluttered with mythology and subplots.
The bad guy is undefined, its minions are unkillable and the military antagonist is played by someone (Chiwetel Ejiofor) overqualified for the role.
As with the previous movies, the film’s pleasures come from scenes of Tom Hardy talking to each other.
The film is at its best when it is a road movie, with our heroes bouncing off of each other. When the movie is just about these characters babbling at each other, it is kind of compelling.
There is less conflict between the couple, but there is an energy and a shagginess to their interactions that is far more interesting than any of the traditional blockbuster stuff.
Venom - The Last Dance makes some feeble moves toward being about the end of the central relationship.
Hardy brings the pathos with a side of ham, but the story around him is so dull and fast-paced that there is no sense of catharsis.
A banal end to a beautiful friendship.
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