Director: Ruben Fleischer
Cast Headliners: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed, Jenny Slate
Original Release Date: October 5th, 2018
This is really surreal to see.... After decades of existing in comic books, cartoons, and a somewhat lackluster turn in Macguire's Spiderman 3 the villian Venom now has a starring role. But it's a new cinematic Sony universe without Spiderman. Does that work out, does the tale of man and symbiote work in a vacuum.... Some of it does .
It's immediately felt through the setting that exists amongst more mundane craft. Investigative journalist Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) juggles his justice motives with his relationship with attorney Anne Weying (Michelle Williams). Events concerning the mysterious Life Foundation and its CEO Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed) cause complications escalating with the arrival of the alien symbiotes and the powers they give .
Any comic book movie that introduces a universe is driven by its lead. Tom Hardy is an exciting pitch for that role but unfortunately results heavily vary. As Brock he has some attempted quips and ferocity but neither quite hits the mark they or his talent needs. What becomes quite interesting is the abilities granted by the symbiote suit Venom (also Hardy). This pile of black goo has a mind of its own and weapons to spare. This leads to some genuinely entertaining moments of bickering and growth between them or of brutal violent threats. This, as all the writing, can also be childish in a way with dumb toilet humor and simplicity. The audio effects for him, and his counterpart Riot (who's performer matches who that becomes) can be cool.
What is not cool are the visual effects for them. The movie attempts some frenetic action but the CGI feels like something from a lower budget, bygone era .. Aside their comic accuracy. Fleischers directing varies between closer up almost fine crafted and hollow. However it has its dumb moments of fine and chaos especially for a fan waiting for this to come to the big screen.
This dialogue which almost itself seems like an alien wrote it carries through to a mostly lackluster supporting cast. William's Anne is stereotypical 'ride along innocent bystander' but gets her moments. This applies to possible ally Dr. Skirth (Jenny Slate) who provides some cheesy exposition along various henchmen and hobos not even worth describing.. The human element this movie has not
As a whole this could have been so much more. It's a lot of slightly but not quite passing . The symbiote struggle and lore is neat along some laughs and woahs and darkness and comic shout outs but it's missing a certain web slinger and the touch that other company brings. For the dedicate only with some caution for quality. 6.7 out of 10
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