'Venom' is an Acting Playground for Tom Hardy

When Spiderman 3 was released in 2007, it pretty much put a period on Maguire's career. It did not receive good reviews compared to the first two and it was considered a misfire. But to me, it's actually still at par with Spiderman 1 and 2. In it, we were introduced with the symbiote organism that darkened Spiderman's suit and persona. And while it didn't suit Maguire's usual goody goody character, it gave us a good villain in Topher Grace as Eddie Brock.

Photo Credits: Columbia Pictures

This year, Eddie Brock slash Venom is back in the body of Tom Hardy. The symbiote, or what he refers to as alien, is still very much alive and kicking. But Hardy's Eddie Brock is way different. Still the journalist that we know him for, but way more likable and less like a douche.

In Venom, the Marvel's antihero takes the center stage as Eddie Brock, a persistent journalist who's been trying to take down the notorious genius founder of Life Foundation, Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed) where his obsession for it ruined both his career, and his relationship with his girlfriend, Anne (Michelle Williams). He tries to win Anne back, but when a scientist (Jenny Slate) called him to show the evil happenings behind Carlton's Drake laboratory, a symbiote accidentally merges with Eddie's body and becomes its powerful host, turning him into a monster like the chasing demon monkey from Temple Run--spooky white eyes, a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth, and a long, slimy, muscular tongue.

Photo Credits: Columbia Pictures

With these features, 'Venom', both the character and the film, become an acting playground for Hardy, who is fully into the crazy and dark fun side of the whole thing, very much committed, up to the challenge, and impressively hilarious to boot. Most especially the moments after the symbiote takes charge of his body, and he tries to fight it. His antics are very reminiscent of Leonardo DiCaprio's iconic high scene in The Wolf of Wall Street. His chemistry with Michelle Williams is also commendable, and Williams as Anne looks enthusiastic and ready to portray the craziness of the movie.

Can't say the same on the whole movie, though. While extremely fun and entertaining, the story is very much slight. It has all the formula of a Marvel superhero movie, but the abundance of its silly humor is a bit too much, that it's difficult to take it seriously. It doesn't help that the CGI Venom suit doesn't look believable at all, and the overall visual effects is weak. Even the Venom character turned from scary to sentimental and cheesy. It went from serious, to funny, to goofy and it would probably work if it's the other way around.

Photo Credits: Columbia Pictures

It also tries to put a romcom vibe whenever Michelle Williams is on screen, and while a change in scene is always welcome, it doesn't fit the supposed bleakness of Venom. To further push Eddie and Anne's love story, it made it feel like there are hearts are all over the crooked streets of San Francisco, where most often we see Hardy and Williams sharing a lovely scene in a cutesy frontyard of a pretty house, with Venom playing the unlikely cupid.

Then again, we go back to how fun it actually is, where the highlight involves Venom finally capturing Eddie's body amidst an exhilarating motorcycle chase scene in the busy San Francisco streets. The final showdown between Ahmed and Hardy, however, is a slight letdown, with both looking like they're fighting as slimy grimers.

Still, this is a highly entertaining movie. Thanks to Tom Hardy's full commitment who most definitely upped the standard of acting in the Marvel cinematic universe. Other actors better keep up!