Allan Watched "Venom"
Despite an uneven script that sloppily sprints point to point, Venom has enough action and spooky laughs to save what could easily have been one of the biggest disappointments of the year.
Gut Feeling
Venom has plenty of flaws, don’t get me wrong, but overall the movie is entertaining enough to not be a complete bust. Maybe it was walking in with low expectations, but I found myself laughing a lot and captivated by the freaky, new-looking action that the alien parasite Venom provides. There are some solid jump scares, and the supporting actors add enough depth to make this a very OK movie.
Hardy Half Good
Tom Hardy (Mad Max: Fury Road, The Dark Knight Rises) is very awkward when he is just journalist Eddie Brock. He is the least believable journalist I have every seen, and the movie struggles when he does not have Venom in him. He kind of talks like Steve Brady from Sex and the City, and he is just awkward. But when the symbiote takes hold of him, the movie gets its punch. He is the provider of 90% of the laughs, and his action scenes are generally very good.
The supporting cast fares a little better as humans than Hardy. Riz Ahmed (The Night Of) plays Carlton Drake (Riot) down the middle, but pulls off an Elon Musk-type supervillain pretty well. Michelle Williams makes a strong Anne Waying, although the Anne-Eddie dynamic is so rushed that fans of the comics won’t be thrilled. She’s more of a plot device than a love interest, but Williams gives the role enough sympathy to feel like her presence matters.
Jenny Slate (Marcel the Shell, Parks and Recreation, Obvious Child) is really good and a splash of energy when her minor character makes it on screen. I wanted a lot more of her for sure throughout.
Was There A Plot?
This script feels very rushed, but the sub-two-hour run time is probably a good thing, because if the movie was any longer it could have tipped this movie towards the very bad. When you identify the final battle is starting, I did think “Oh, hey, this is it!” It never felt like a drag. But the story does sputter about, as Venom drags Eddie location to location with shoddy dialog rambling between the two as they sprint around San Francisco.
The action in the film is likely its biggest success. The fights do not last long at all, and it does look different than the standard Marvel combat that we are used to, which was refreshing. You also do hate Carlton Drake right away, which works, and the SpaceX-looking company makes you nod and say “Ah yes, this is relevant. Thank you.”
Does the Sony Marvel Universe Have Hope?
The biggest concern about this movie is what it means for the “Sony Marvel Universe". My first thought after the movie was, “Do I really care about the non-Spidey characters in the Spider-Man universe.” And so far, not really. Sony will make money off their purchase of these rights, even if it means making many bleh movies, this is clear. But to build out this universe it will take characters we care about, and Venom was fine or whatever, but to carry a franchise? Not so much.
Random Thoughts
Despite the title being the name of a character, it was only said three times! #TitleDrops
There is a scene where Drake says “You are getting blood on my lab coat,” but he is very clearly not wearing a lab coat. HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?? I was very distracted by this for many seconds after it was said.
The mechanics of how Venom acts as Venom is effective. I liked it. It felt fresh.
For real, Tomy Hardy is the worst journalist ever. They should’ve just ditched the concept when they shot the opening montage of him pretending like he is a Vice reporter.
You have to give director Ruben Fleischer some credit for the funny in this film. You got a sense of the Zombieland/30 Minutes or Less dark-humor vibe, and it may have saved this film.
THE OPENING SCENE GRAPHICS ARE SO TERRIBLE HOW COULD THAT POSSIBLY HAVE MADE THE FINAL CUT!
Apparently Tom Hardy said that all of his favorite parts of the movie did not make the final cut. I would love to know what mindless plot he thought was great.
Quick Hits:
How many times have I seen this movie?
First time!
Where was I watching it?
I watched it in theaters by myself. I was in the back row with popcorn and a large diet root beer. Also in the back row? A young couple that brought a blanket to go over them throughout the viewing -__________-.
One Random Thought?
I now can’t stop thinking about how Tom Hardy sounds like Steve from Sex and the City.
Did Kellye Watch it? If Yes, did she like it. If no, would she like it?
Kellye had the option for me to wait and watch with her, but she gave me the OK. Kellye loves Marvel, but this probably would have been too weak for her. She too would have been distracted by the “blood on my coat” line where he wasn’t wearing a coat.
Favorite fact I learned from Wikipedia
Idk, the Wikipedia page is to f-ing long for a very blah movie. Plenty of background to remind you that Sony totally botched this whole Marvel thing.
Favorite part
Every time Tom Hardy says he has a parasite.
Least favorite part
HE WASN’T WEARING A LAB COAT HOW DID THAT MAKE THE MOVIE????
Would I recommend this movie and why?
I mean, it’s not awful, and it scratches the comic book itch and is not long at all, so I say go for it.
So What Does Allan Give It?
One thumbs up. Overall, a score of 52. I feel nothing. Here’s Venom licking a guy.
