GRADE: C

THIS FILM IS NOT RECOMMENDED.

IN BRIEF: Mr. Hardy is perfectly cast in an imperfect superhero film that is less than super.

JIM'S REVIEW: Venom is yet another Marvel superhero movie with an unique antihero adjusting to his new superpowers. The plot follows a good man named Eddie Brock, an investigative reporter who crusades for humanitarian causes. He becomes infected by an alien parasite that wants Eddie to be its host in order to conquer our world. Capturing this symbiote invading mass is the main objective for Carlton Drake, a rich mad megalomaniac who want to control its power for genetic engineering purposes. Of course, good and evil will collide in a fight to the finish.

The film quickly loses any logical sense...sometimes the parasite kills its host as it moves from victim to victim, other times it is comfortable in its temporary lodgings, or it leaves without any fatal effect. The screenplay-by-committee approach is evident in the script by Scott Rosenberg, Jeff Pinkner, and Kelly Marcel. It is standard storytelling in need of more dark humor and wit ala Deadpool.

Conventionally directed by Ruben Fleischer, the film also is in need of better craftsmanship. The CGI is sub-par, the creature design looks artificial, the sound design is somewhat inaudible, and many of the action sequences are blurry and sloppily edited by Alan Baumgarten and Maryann Brandon.

What almost saves the film is a darkly comic performance by Tom Hardy in the lead role. His physical reactions to his transformations from hell and back are priceless and provide the only fun in all of this heavy-handedness.The odd couple bantering between Eddie/Venom helps the film achieve some sort of strange buddy movie vibe.

Otherwise, the actor stands alone. None of the other cast members register a glimmer of authenticity. In fact, the usually reliable and talented Michelle Williams as Eddie's girl, adds nothing but confusion to her under-written role and has little chemistry with Mr. Hardy. It is one of her weakest performances in her strong resume of films. As the villain, Riz Ahmed, a fine actor himself, lacks any real menace in his woeful role. And in the end credits, there is also a strange cameo by Woody Harrelson in a red fright wig that hints at his being the next villain in its sure-to-be-soon sequel.

Enjoy Mr. Hardy. He is honestly the only thing worthy in this movie. This Venom numbs rather than stings.