The Venom franchise has certainly had its share of ups and downs, but Venom: the Last Dance was a noticeable improvement that concluded the series well. After the fairly underwhelming second installment, this third chapter has been a big improvement. The film follows Eddie Brock (played by Tom Hardy) and the Venom symbiote (voiced by Tom Hardy). Although the film was a good conclusion, the interactions between Venom and Eddie are one of the only entertaining aspects of the film.

Picking up where the previous movie left off, Eddie and Venom continue their chaotic relationship while trying to live under the radar. The pair then discovers a mysterious artifact, a key with the potential to alter the balance of power the humans and alien species venom belongs to. The significance of this artifact soon becomes obvious as they are hunted by a new antagonist alien (also Tom Hardy) leader dedicating everything to retrieve the key. If necessary, Eddie and Venom will be killed by the alien to get the key. This lays the foundation for the rest of the story, with the two racing against time to keep the key away from the alien species while fighting off additional enemies. This conflict drives the film, creating a high stakes game of chase. Throughout the film, there are enjoyable interactions between Venom and Eddie, mainly in the aftermath of high-stakes situations occurring back and forth between the two, creating comedic relief between the battles.

“Overall, I thought it was a nice way to end the series, my favorite part about the franchise is still the two arguing with each other and the fight scenes” said Freshman Thomas Chung

While the movie delivers an entertaining blend of action and humor, it struggles with pacing. The first half is interesting and strong, with lots of story and tension, but the middle half ultimately leads to the usual chase scenes viewers are used to in superhero movies. It also lacks the story and emotional depth and complexity that could have made it something more unique.  For instance, unlike The Dark Knight (2008), in which Bruce Wayne’s (Christian Bale) character evolution is complex, with internal struggles such as his role as batman and the death of his parents, Venom is simply a bit unsophisticated and perhaps boring.

The heart of the film still lies in the back and forth relationship between Eddie and Venom, which seems to be one of the only unique and interesting things about the film. Although this back and forth banter provides good moments in the film, there are times where the humor feels forced or feels fake.

“I watched it with my family and thought the story line was alright and reused, but the jokes were good. It’s a pretty fun movie to watch with friends or family members.” said Junior Maya Fonseca.

The action sequences don’t offer what we haven’t already seen, with the re-used battles and Venom going on constant rampages. That being said, it lacks excitement and innovation that could elevate it. Fans of the first two movies will likely find Venom: The Last Dance to be a more enjoyable experience, as it feels like a more coherent story than its precursor.

While Venom: The Last Dance is not a pioneer in the superhero movie world, it’s a solid improvement from where the series was heading. With a more solid plot and memorable moments between Eddie and Venom, it’s a fun entry into the franchise. It definitely is not the best movie of the year, but it provides an entertaining and action-filled movie for the fans.