'Venom' review: Nothing to 'Marvel' at

Not only does the film waste a great character but it does no justice to Tom Hardy either

KARACHI: There are multiple ways to take the people’s favourite formidable, intimidating super anti-hero and fail him with a boring film. Firstly, give him the least threatening antagonist in recent memory. Secondly, have three writers pen a script with no character development, interesting supporting characters or a consistent tone.

Finally and most importantly, give it the most generic treatment and don’t add anything new to make it stand out. Sony’s first film in its separate Marvel Universe, Venom, checks all these boxes.

PHOTO: MARVEL

Following Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock, a journalist, who ends up with an alien symbiote’s host body and has to fight the cold-blooded genius inventor Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed) to save the world, Venom is doomed from the start. The first hour’s slow pace and clichéd setup makes you look at your watch at least thrice.

Then it has the most anti-climactic climax which doesn’t even try to up the ante against Venom. It’s almost as if the film just goes through the motions with no interest or excitement in the effort of telling the story. And the audience feels it.

PHOTO: MARVEL

The only reason you stay in the theatre is because of Hardy’s performance. It’s a given, no matter what role he plays, he gives it his all. He is not only the best aspect of the film but the only good aspect of the film too. His growly accent, offbeat personality and his relationship with the “parasite” in his body makes his portrayal interesting enough to survive the mediocrity of the film.

As to how accurate his portrayal is to the comics, only a comic book follower may tell. To me, director Ruben Fleischer’s treatment of the relationship between Brock and Venom reminded me of that between Light Yagami and his Shinigami Ryuk in Death Note.

PHOTO: MARVEL

It has its amusing moments but they stand out because they are actually funny and because the tone of the rest of the film is so somber that they stick out like a sore thumb.

While Venom tries to add comedy into the mix, his antagonist Drake acts like he is in a different film altogether. And it’s not even his fault. He is asked to look and sound menacing and he does. But there is nothing more to it. Michelle Williams as Brock’s fiancée Anne Weying comes off like she doesn’t even want to be in the film. And quite frankly, the amateurish script gives her no reason to even want to.

PHOTO: MARVEL

In all, no one expects a brilliantly written and crafted film in the superhero (that’s why when it happens, such as in the cases of Logan or Deadpool, it’s heavily praised) but one at least expects to have fun watching it. Venom falls short of delivering that too. Not only does the film waste a great character, it does no justice to Hardy either – exactly how Suicide Squad let everybody down.

Verdict: The hype may bring you to the cinema but don’t expect anything to Marvel at.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

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