This weekend Sony launches its own cinematic universe with Ruben Fleischer’s Venom. Although the film is making a strong showing at the box office opening weekend, the reviews have been less than approving. The general consensus gathered from reviews for Venom is that the film is a tonal mess, veering wildly from drama, horror, and comedy from scene to scene. That assessment of tone is true, but I remain unconvinced that it makes for a bad movie, and least of all a poor adaptation of the comic book character who made his debut in 1988.
We’re at an interesting time in superhero cinema. There are more capes, costumes, and cinematic universes than ever before, and despite how often “superhero fatigue” gets thrown around, superhero/villain movies aren’t going anywhere any time soon. One of the most interesting conversations to arise around the glut of comic book adaptation concerns tone. While Marvel Studios’ Marvel Cinematic Universe has set a certain expectation for the tone of these movies, one that even varies within their franchises, there’s an interesting discussion to be had about superhero films that populated cinemas before 2008 and the reception of those that have steered clear, sometimes intentionally and sometimes not, of the Marvel method.
Why ‘Venom’ is dividing critics and audiences
4 comments
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I kinda got the impression the writer isn’t a fan of the tone the MCU has set for the general audience. I don’t think every franchise should mimic that tone. I’m aware not everyone is a fan of that tone (see this site’s sister website), but it’d be foolish for the MCU to stop including one of the ingredients in its successful formula.
I haven’t seen this movie (not really interested to), but it’s tone looks a lot like the Marvel movies released before 2008 (aside from the Fox & Sony ones). I wouldn’t say those proved off the charts successful.
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It’s a dark comedy/horror/buddy cop movie. Personally, I liked it a lot. It hits typical Superhero origin beats, but I think it plays them well. There aren’t many major character arcs, the villain is the villain, the love interest is the love interest, the character arc is Eddie and Venom working it out, and they all did it very well. They made it work without Spider-Man, the reason symbiotes bond well with certain hosts works well. Action sequences were great. It was a lot of fun if you like darker humor.
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There is no divide, all the negative reviews are just Russian trolls…..oops…..sorry, that excuse only applies to Star Wars films.
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The Russians never got over the Star Wars. They’re determined to bring it down. For Sputnik!
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