Morbius (2022)

Morbius, like it's Sony Marvel Universe cousin Venom, is a solid (if light) monster movie/comic book movie hybrid that leans into the classic monster movie tropes and takes you on a fun (if sometimes silly) ride. By keeping the story telling economic Morbius offers popcorn entertainment that is easily digestible and accessible to most audiences. 

Sony seems determined to grab what they can from their partnership with Disney over the Spider-Man properties while keeping their own toys in their own sandbox. They could have left everything ambiguous enough in these movies to allow the audience to see the characters as existing in the same world as Tom Holland's Spider-Man but instead they go to great lengths to establish their little universe is theirs and theirs alone. Perhaps in case the deal ever falls through they can still do what they want with these characters they are developing? So we get some tacked on world building during the credits which may or may not make a lot of sense narratively but allow the audience to get excited about potential team ups in the future. 

But back to the movie. Morbius starts with a scene that plays more for gothic mood than for story purposes. Honestly it isn't clear where it fits into the whole narrative. But then it gets its main story going and tells it systematically, simply, so anyone can follow it. It's Jekyll and Hyde, it's not that far off from Venom. The film may require some suspension of disbelief but it commits pretty solidly to its premise and its story making it all work if you just let it. 

The film is quite visually spectacular. It was a fun watch in the cinema on a big screen. The effects feel less real world logical and more artistic in their approach. It was lovely to watch and overall just fun and entertaining. Honestly so much of the MCU can be a slog its nice to see a film just be light entertainment that pushes all the buttons, even if it won't be earth shattering or anything. 

Morbius

Starring: Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Tyrese Gibson,  Al Madrigal, Michael Keaton, Corey Johnson

Director: Daniel Espinosa

Writers: Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless