60 SECOND REVIEW: VENOM (10/5/18)
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| "I will eat anyone who gives me a bad review ... Looks like I might be hungry based on 90% of what I've read on the Internet, Eddie!" The titular character prepares to pounce in a scene from Columbia Pictures' take on Marvel's popular anti-hero VENOM. Credit: CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved. |
KEY CAST MEMBERS: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed, Jenny Slate, Scott Haze and Reid Scott
DIRECTOR(S): Ruben Fleischer
WEB SITE: http://www.venom.movie/site/
THE BACK STORY: Based on the beloved character created by Todd McFarlane during his Marvel days, Venom stars Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock, a journalist forced out of New York to San Francisco who forever finds his life changed once he investigates Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed). But once Dr. Dora Skirth (Jenny Slate) helps Eddie get too close, he discovers what Drake has been hiding: Alien symbiotes that have quite an appetite – and names, too ...
THE BACK STORY: Based on the beloved character created by Todd McFarlane during his Marvel days, Venom stars Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock, a journalist forced out of New York to San Francisco who forever finds his life changed once he investigates Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed). But once Dr. Dora Skirth (Jenny Slate) helps Eddie get too close, he discovers what Drake has been hiding: Alien symbiotes that have quite an appetite – and names, too ...
THE REVIEW: Everybody makes mistakes – and just about everyone involved with Spider-Man 3 has since admitted that film was one Sony and Marvel alike wish they could take back. With Venom, Sony gets a do-over that will likely entertain casual fans while leaving die-hard fans of the black spider-like creature going "eh, it's OK."
Hardy brings a great sense of humor to the role of Brock, but does so in a "yeah, I can get into this guy" versus a "man, $#@! this guy" fashion. Ahmed exhibits a little sly, Jessica Jones-style villain action into the mix and Michelle Williams, well, she's there, sometimes in a good way, sometimes ... You get it.
If you're a Marvel Universe fan, you'll likely enjoy Venom. His relationship with Eddie is the best thing about the movie more so than any of the action scenes themselves and the development of the character is much better and fulfilling than many non-comic book-based movies (and better than whatever the people behind Justice League thought they were doing.
Of course, the two end credit scenes (personally, I'd just stay for the first one) may leave you wondering if Sony is about to stretch itself too thing with its one Marvel franchise, but only time will tell if they have bit off more than they can chew. Given the film's villain, let's just say that if you enjoyed the Edward Norton installment of the The Incredible Hulk, you'll likely enjoy Venom.
Or, as he might say, Venom has just enough bite to keep you entertained.
Hardy brings a great sense of humor to the role of Brock, but does so in a "yeah, I can get into this guy" versus a "man, $#@! this guy" fashion. Ahmed exhibits a little sly, Jessica Jones-style villain action into the mix and Michelle Williams, well, she's there, sometimes in a good way, sometimes ... You get it.
If you're a Marvel Universe fan, you'll likely enjoy Venom. His relationship with Eddie is the best thing about the movie more so than any of the action scenes themselves and the development of the character is much better and fulfilling than many non-comic book-based movies (and better than whatever the people behind Justice League thought they were doing.
Of course, the two end credit scenes (personally, I'd just stay for the first one) may leave you wondering if Sony is about to stretch itself too thing with its one Marvel franchise, but only time will tell if they have bit off more than they can chew. Given the film's villain, let's just say that if you enjoyed the Edward Norton installment of the The Incredible Hulk, you'll likely enjoy Venom.
Or, as he might say, Venom has just enough bite to keep you entertained.
OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
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