"The Last Dance," also known as "Venom 3," is undoubtedly the concluding chapter of the series.
The first installment of this series was released in 2018, where Sony Columbia Pictures ceded the "Spider-Man" franchise back to Marvel for development while attempting to test the waters with a secondary character—a parasitic alien virus known as "Venom," who, when attached to a host, transforms them into a half-man, half-monster hybrid. The first "Venom" film was made with a production budget of $100 million and grossed $800 million globally, making it an unconventional entry amidst the superhero wave of that year. They even enlisted rapper Eminem to create the theme song, establishing a unique underground style that blends horror and violence with quirky humor.
From the poster, it appears that this film is essentially a solo performance by Tom Hardy, featuring an animated character as a supporting role.
Looking back at the trajectory of the series, if handled well, the character of "Venom," known for his incessant and sharp-tongued nature, could have become an alternative superhero icon akin to "Deadpool," someone both adorable and outrageous yet intrinsically violent. However, the poor reception of "Venom 2" (2021) proved that Columbia Pictures struggled with steering superhero films, effectively undermining the potential for this character to skyrocket in popularity. Of course, the sequel did turn a profit, so the third installment serves as a cultural closure to the trilogy, tapping into nostalgia and at least guaranteeing a break-even scenario. In terms of investment, this film had a production cost of less than half that of the recently released "Deadpool and Wolverine," leaving it far behind in scale compared to A-grade blockbusters. While audiences may not pay attention to these commercial intricacies, promotional content won’t reveal such facts. It's akin to the difference between imported goods and discounted near-expiration products; you get what you pay for, so it’s best not to be overly picky.
As a virtual character, the fearsome appearance of "Venom" is quite memorable, making it a focal point in the film’s marketing. However, this artistic innovation was already showcased in the first installment, and this latest entry lacks significant ambition for upgrades.
After lowering expectations, one might notice a palpable urgency in the film to save on production costs, particularly in the rush to complete the story within a short timeframe.
While the protagonists in the previous two films roamed the urban landscape of San Francisco, creating chaos and destruction, this installment relocates many of its scenes to a desert-based alien research site, Area 51, limiting the potential for destruction and likely cutting down on special effects expenses. The alien creatures' schemes and roars, along with the chaotic battles following the virus's parasitic invasion, rely wholly on post-production effects; no matter how intimidating their visages, fundamentally, they all appear as 3D animated figures, lacking the impressive live-action and special effects integration of Marvel’s high-budget productions.
The result is a film that, while visually dynamic and flashy, feels like a formulaic commercial endeavor with a distinct lack of unique visual innovation, leaving viewers with little memorable content. The film's production method is standard industrial output; although there are no outright mistakes, the overall quality comes across as rather uninspired.
If there's any upgrade, it features quirky "Venom Horse" and "Venom Frog," signifying that anything can be transformed into "Venom." However, in reality, these are simply 3D animated figures that only make brief appearances and do not hold much weight in the overall narrative.
Compared to the more problematic sequel, this film has reduced the number of repetitive fighting scenes, placing more emphasis on the narrative. Similarly to the most recent "Deadpool," both films elevate their star leads to the role of producers, giving these actors greater influence during the creative process. Consequently, the film shifts its focus from special effects to the leading actor's charisma, enhancing the "performative" aspect of this commercial blockbuster, providing numerous moments of genuine fun.
Tom Hardy, the English heartthrob known for being voted "Sexiest Man of the Year," dons a muscular physique in the "Venom" series, where his character often appears as a drunken, timid, and somewhat hapless individual. His latent violent tendencies lurk beneath a confused surface, complementing the raspy, incessantly chattering voice of the virus, evoking a sense of impending psychotic break at any moment.
For superheroes, a character's foundation should resonate with their audience, enabling ordinary viewers to relate. If "Spider-Man" appeals to the nondescript students of high school, "Venom" represents a thoroughly failed middle-aged man; amidst the pressures of today’s global environment, he feels like a tinderbox waiting for a spark to ignite and ultimately explode with frustration. The first "Venom" captured this dark essence, gaining audience favor, but unfortunately, this installment failed to enlist an angry rapper for accompaniment, which could have added a sense of "I'm furious, don't mess with me."
A triumphant lead and a dour-faced female director seem to represent a kind of commercial film fable. For some star actors, like Jackie Chan or Deng Chao, they often take center stage in the creative process, while directors mostly exist to facilitate their work.
In this film, with the previous female writer Kelly Marcel stepping up as director for the first time, the tone adheres to a "safer, non-offensive" approach typical of a novice. As a farewell piece for the series, the director purposely includes numerous nostalgic reflections, emphasizing the protagonist's contemplation of their "alien virus parasitism." Thus, the odd "alien-obsessed" family, while adding some harmless humor, also provides the lead with space for introspection, evoking mixed feelings of love and hatred toward the noisy alien virus. The brief moments of joy shared in Las Vegas, including the return of supporting character Mrs. Chen from the previous films, serve to evoke a sense of "we once had joy," setting the stage for the ensuing intense battle and farewell. Venom's exuberant dance presentation aligns with the film’s subtitle, "The Last Dance." These emotional beats, though not particularly poignant, are nevertheless delicate and form an acceptable part of the film's narrative.
Considering that, for the most part, removing the alien virus's voice and external effects entails Tommy Hardy performing "without props," for instance, madly "playing piano" on a slot machine, instantly losing $20, encapsulates the manic eccentricity of a gambler in a comically exaggerated manner. It must be said that even without overt signals, Hardy's performance remains the film's standout highlight, exhibiting a continuous evolution from confusion to latent violence wrapped in dark humor. The film's farewell scene even carries a trace of poignancy, where the line "take your wishes to see the scenery" evokes a sense of nostalgia, showcasing the success of crafting an appealing "virtual character."
Overall, the film does not extend the dark essence established in the first installment. Instead, it blandly meets and exceeds the minimum standards for both storytelling and action sequences. For die-hard fans, disappointment arose from earlier rumors that "Spider-Man" would make a brief cameo, which ultimately did not transpire. However, even if "Little Spider" had appeared, his role would not have dominated the film, as the entire project largely remains a one-man show, with other supporting characters and villains being largely inconsequential.
With that said, the film is generally a light-hearted distraction that allows for enjoyable viewing, as long as you don't harbor any lofty expectations based on the promotions, which should help you avoid disappointment.
"Venom" and "Little Spider" share a complex backstory, and fans have even created their own posters. If executed properly, their collaboration could create a similar crossover effect to "Deadpool and Wolverine." Regardless of the film's quality, such a partnership would surely be more commercially successful. Unfortunately, this collaboration did not come to fruition.
