Better Together
SCORE: 53/100
****BEWARE POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD****
REVIEW:
The sequel to 2018's Venom is a definite improvement over the original, however it still suffers from enough issues that I feel need to be addressed.
Let's talk about positives here, and it really boils down to the two main actors; Tom Hardy and Woody Harrelson. Arguably the best part of the original, Tom Hardy doubles down on his completely insane performance here, bringing enough humor and heart to really make sure that he is seen as the definitive on-screen Venom. Woody Harrelson is clearly having a blast playing Cletus Kasady and Carnage, reveling in the chaos he exudes. And when both of them come together to fight, it's just as good as the fans were hoping for. Naomie Harris is also having a blast as Shriek, but I don't feel her character was given enough to do. Michelle Williams returns as Anne, and she continues to be a great, level-headed character. Reid Scott is also great in the scenes he's in, with Dan being another great recurring character.
As always, the chemistry between Venom and Eddie Brock continues to be the highlight of this series. Their banter, insults, and support of each other is well written and funny, and adds another layer of character to the anti-hero. The action in Venom: Let There be Carnage is also a lot of fun, specifically when Carnage is let loose. While I don't feel enough of Cletus came through in Carnage, he automatically posed a larger threat that Riot did in the original film. The fight between Venom and Carnage is also a blast, and really lives up to the hype that fans have had.
Where the film falters for me comes down to its camera work and its length. The film runs an hour and a half, which is about 20-30 minutes shy of your average film. While the length can work for some people (particularly the Tik Tok generation with their incredibly idiotic attention spans), I would have preferred a little more depth. Perhaps more time with Cletus to make him more of a threat than just Carnage, as we're supposed to just feel frightened by the fact that he's a serial killer.
The camera work here can range from bad to horrid, with director Andy Serkis using the Hollywood favorite shaky cam. Perhaps it was my own viewing in an IMAX theater, but the action scenes were a little too hard to decipher. I was a little closer to the screen than I prefer, but not close enough to make it a bad experience. I'll have to watch the film again on a smaller screen to see if that's still the case.
I had heard from a lot of other critics and fans that this film would be good for those who liked the first film, and not so good for those who didn't. I have to disagree. I did not like the first Venom, and I did have a substantially better time during this film. Perhaps it was due to a more recognizable villain, or the continued on screen chemistry of Tom Hardy and Venom, but it felt more cohesive. I won't discuss the end credits sequence here, for fear of spoilers, but it's worth the cost of admission alone.
Conclusion: While it still has its fair share of issues, the Venom sequel is more fun due to its lovable main character and a true threat of a villain in Carnage.
Score: 53/100
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