“Venom: The Last Dance” is a worthy third installment in the franchise. It goes farther afield than the San Francisco settings of the first two movies, giving a broader scope to the series. The balance of comedy and action continues to be a highlight of these films.

Knull (Andy Serkis) is in a dark region somewhere in the universe. His creations, the Symbiotes, have imprisoned him there. Only a Codex can free him. He tells his Xenophages to go look for one so he can wreak havoc on all life.

Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) and Venom, his Symbiote, have fled to Mexico after the events of the last movie. Eddie is wanted for the murder of Detective Mulligan (Stephen Graham). He and Venom get drunk in a tavern, startling the bartender. Then they go out and take out a gang that is mistreating dogs.

Unbeknowst to them, a Xenophage has detected the Codex in Venom. The Codex only appears when Venom manifests completely in his true form. The Codex was created when Venom saved Eddie’s life at the end of the first film. When Venom is inside Eddie or only partially out, the Codex is undetectable to the Xenophage.

Eddie and Venom decide to head to New York City. Telling Eddie that he can fly, Venom has them on the outside fuselage of a jetliner heading to the Big Apple. When Venom manifests, a Xenophage attacks them and the plane. They survive a fall to the earth.

Simultaneously, Area 51 is being decommissioned. Little do we know that there is a secret underground laboratory under the base where Symbiotes have been captured and are being studied.

Dr. Payne (Juno Temple), aided by her assistant Sadie Christmas (Clark Backo), runs the facility. A flashback shows a younger Payne with her brother during a thunderstorm. A bolt of lightning kills her sibling and she decides to pursue his dreams of working for NASA.

Inside the facility, Detective Mulligan (he’s alive!) is paired with a new Symbiote. This Symbiote reveals to Dr. Payne and military man Rex Strickland (Chiwetel Ejiofor) the plans of Knull and the dangers of the Xenophages acquiring a Codex.

Meanwhile Strickland’s team then tries to capture Eddie and Venom. Venom is forced to manifest and the Xenophage strikes. Several of Strickland’s team are killed.

Eddie and Venom run across a hippie family, the Moons, that has ditched the workaday world to go to Area 51 and find aliens. Martin (Rhys Ifans), the father, agrees to take Eddie to Las Vegas on their way to Area 51.

In Vegas, Eddie and Venom have to take care of several guards to get a suit to enter the casino. Martin has given Eddie a stake but the one-arm slots are not helpful. Then Eddie sees Mrs. Chen (Peggy Lu) winning big.

Mrs. Chen invites Eddie and Venom up to her suite. She wants to dance (hence “The Last Dance” subtitle). Eddie refuses, but Venom cuts a rug with the convenience store owner. Of course a Xenophage sees the Codex from a distance once Venom starts to dance. It steadily heads to Vegas as the Moons continue to their destiny at Area 51.

In general, I felt that this film started slowly. I was not enamored of either the early scene with Knull, which I found confusing, or the antics of Eddie and Venom in Mexico. But as the plot progressed to Area 51, the introduction of the Moon family, and the military attack on Eddie and Venom in the desert, the pace picked up well.

The idea of decommissioning Area 51 was a brilliant theme. The fact that it encouraged the Moon family to travel cross-country to the region meant that the comedic lifestyle of the parents could enhance the picture. From their VW bus to their quirky personal dynamics, they brightened the film every time they appeared.

When I saw Mrs. Chen, I was so pleased. She always has been a welcome addition due to her love of Venom. It seemed perfectly natural that she would treat herself to a suite in Vegas.

Other great ideas included having the dogs turn on the gang members in Mexico, the whole clinging-to-the-fuselage way of flying, and the continuing great bond between Eddie and Venom. I also liked the resurrection of Detective Mulligan as a character.

One aspect of the script which I disliked was the fact that Venom could not manifest in his full form as much due to the presence of the Codex. I couldn’t tell if this was an attempt to save on special effects or not. But it affected the full interplay between Eddie and Venom, and this was a detriment to the movie.

I also found the subplot about Dr. Payne and her sibling to be unnecessary. It added nothing to the story and could easily have been excluded. In fact, the scientists at the facility were generally portrayed by attributes rather than personality.

The visual effects, always a highlight in this series, are generally quite good. The Xenophages and Symbiotes are well-conceived and depicted. This includes Venom himself.

The military sequences, in particular a scene involving a river venue, were effective and believable. At Area 51, both the set design of the underground facility and later action takes were great.

I did not care for the depiction of Knull’s prison world. For one thing, I could barely see Knull’s face. For another, it was murkily shown. This makes me wonder if, on a smaller screen, it will be difficult to make out anything other than a blur of grays.

Rhys Ifans as Martin Moon steals the scene whenever he appears. His good nature, open-mindedness, and care for his family make him a delight to watch. Tom Hardy does a yeoman’s job but I didn’t feel that he was fully invested in this project. Ejiofor is the other presence worth noting. He is steely and resolved throughout, and is subtle in a role that could have been over the top.

There are early credit and end credit scenes, although I felt underwhelmed by the latter. This is probably too intense for younger children, but should be OK for tweens.

I will admit to feeling a bit of sadness at the conclusion of the picture, but spoilers prevent me from saying why. But this movie is a good blend of action and humor. If you have enjoyed this series, this installment is worth watching.

Four out of five stars

In Venom: The Last Dance, Tom Hardy returns as Venom, one of Marvel’s greatest and most complex characters, for the final film in the trilogy. Eddie and Venom are on the run. Hunted by both of their worlds and with the net closing in, the duo are forced into a devastating decision that will bring the curtains down on Venom and Eddie’s last dance.

Cast: Tom Hardy, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, Rhys Ifans, Stephen Graham, Peggy Lu, Alanna Ubach
Directed by: Kelly Marcel

Based on the Marvel Comics.