Shocking! Venom: The Last Dance – Tom Hardy’s Unforgettable Finale Performance!

Whether you’re a fan of “Venom” or not is largely subjective; but, as it turns out, quite a large number of people are. The highly popular Marvel franchise, courtesy of Sony, consists of three oddly captivating comic book movies that showcase Tom Hardy’s interpretation of reporter Eddie Brock and his cheeky alien ally, Venom (also voiced by Hardy). The concluding episode, “Venom: The Last Dance,” marks the end of the trilogy, which is a unique blend of seriousness and irreverence, establishing a campy vibe that sets them apart from the more serious superhero films or those that indulge in self-referential sarcasm.

The distinctive humor of these films owes much to Hardy’s dual role as Venom and Eddie, as well as his contributions to the script (he is credited with the storyline for both 2021’s “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” and this latest installment). His close collaboration with his longtime ally Kelly Marcel, the writer of all three movies, is also noteworthy. Marcel makes her directorial debut with “The Last Dance,” indicating with the title that this could be Venom’s final spin on the silver screen.

The core appeal of these movies continues to be the dynamic between Eddie and Venom, his alien buddy who often emerges to make a wisecrack and can control Eddie’s body with his tar-like substance and large teeth. The grumpy Venom has an affinity for animals, a penchant for devouring brains, and an inclination to get lost in music (in the second film, the characters attend a rave; in this one, they perform a choreographed disco dance in a Las Vegas penthouse).

This dynamic remains the centerpiece in “The Last Dance,” as Eddie and Venom strive to travel from Mexico to New York City and find themselves stuck in Area 51, as aliens are prone to do. A considerable amount of exposition reveals that the duo has become a codex, or key, to open a kind of cosmic jail where a stringy-haired dark lord, imprisoned by his symbiote offspring, resides. This lord sends an army of sharp, crab-like aliens through portals to seize the Eddie-Venom codex and secure his freedom.

When Venom fully manifests, the duo turns into a tracking device, and the codex can be obliterated only if one of them dies. Hence, the narrative essentially becomes a chase movie set in the American Southwest. With Col. Strickland (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and his special forces on their tail, and a scientist sympathetic to aliens, Dr. Payne (Juno Temple), trying to rescue the specimens, chaos unfolds in and around Area 51, which is about to be decommissioned in three days.

The desert backdrop and gnashing alien creatures lend “The Last Dance” a hint of “Starship Troopers” and a dash of “Tremors,” paying homage to the knowingly campy B-movie monster flicks of the past. This “Last Dance” may be scruffy, ridiculous, and even somewhat dimwitted — but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, particularly when it is blatantly toying with its own genre.

This journey seems somewhat haphazard, but Hardy’s eccentric charm and a stellar soundtrack do much to smooth the ride. The film also becomes a group comedy as Eddie meets various people, including a dad (Rhys Ifans) obsessed with aliens taking his family on a pilgrimage to Area 51 in their hippy-style Volkswagen bus, and his old friend Mrs. Chen (Peggy Lu), who operates slot machines in Vegas. These supporting actors play the vital role of playing it straight to Venom’s jesting. Since Michelle Williams in the initial movie, it’s crucial that those around Venom understand their role but allow him to steal the show, and this cast impeccably accomplishes that.

In the end, though, it’s not the supporting roles, narratives, set pieces, or special effects that define “Venom,” but Hardy’s chemistry with himself in the dual, combative roles. Perhaps it’s his rapport with Marcel that makes these movies tick because you truly believe in the bond between Eddie and Venom, their affection for each other is as palpable as their bickering. Although the concept itself seems to be running out of steam, and it would be beneficial to free Hardy for other projects, it’s a fitting farewell for the sassy alien with the radiant smile.

Katie Walsh is a Tribune News Service film critic.