With all the tiresome world-building, cynical plays at diversity, and generally inflated sense of cultural significance of the superhero genre, sometimes it's a relief to sit back and experience something that's smart enough to play totally dumb.

[It's] an entertaining, if probably forgettable, antidote to superhero bloat.

Venom meets the basic requirements for comic-book movie enjoyment with improved CGI, great-looking action and yet another convincing performance by Tom Hardy.

A love story written in blood, sweat and the slime of half-eaten brains.

Where the first Venom was toxically dull, Venom 2, at its best, is intoxicating.