The first Venom was hugely flawed but still somewhat entertaining, and I was hoping the sequel would iron out the kinks and step everything up. Unfortunately, what we have here is very much more of the same - sloppy storytelling, disjointed pacing and phoned in performances. Harrelson seems like the perfect Kasady/Carnage casting choice on paper, but he just doesn't fit right in the role somehow. The plot is boring and utterly predictable (hero loses his powers only to have his love interest kidnapped so has to get them back to save her... am I talking about Spider-Man 2 or Venom 2? Answer: both), the film just doesn't do Carnage justice at all, and the CGI effects seem worse here than in the first film. Hardy still does well with his Brock/Venom relationship that has more spats than a troubled marriage, Michelle Williams who plays Anne is much better here than in the first film, and Naomie Harris was actually pretty great as Shriek. Overall it's not terrible, but it should have been a lot better. Maybe third time will be the charm?