Since 1992
Print and digital marketing
Black Widow
(Marvel Studios)
By Lucas Allen
Although she met her fate in “Avengers: Endgame,” “Black Widow” gets one more proper big screen bow in her own long-awaited solo film. Though the MCU shows on Disney+ has been popular right now, it’s nice to finally see this universe return to theaters after a crazy two-year wait. The film is directed by indie director Cate Shortland, while writer Eric Pearson’s previous MCU work has been script doctor on various films plus scripting some episodes of the Agent Carter TV series as well as writing “Thor: Ragnarok,” and most recently wrote the blockbuster hit “Godzilla vs. Kong.”
Some time after the events of “Captain America: Civil War,” Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) is on the run from the U.S .government with Gen. Ross (William Hurt) in hot pursuit. She soon receives a mysterious package from her long-lost sister Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) before traveling to Budapest for an unexpected reunion. Belova explains that the package contained vials containing a secret formula created by a scientist that is supposed to help fellow widow agents be free from mind control. It’s not long before the evil Dreykov (Ray Winstone) sends out his soldiers after them including the mysterious Taskmaster, who can mimic the opponent’s fighting moves. Soon enough, both Natasha and Yelena patch things up before trying to figure out a plan to locate Dreykov who’s hold up in the Red Room and try to take him out. To do so, they first break out their father Alexei (David Harbour) who was the Russian Captain America-equivalent Red Guardian from prison. They then reunite with their mother Melina (Rachel Weisz), who helped architect the Red Room and still works within Dreykov’s operations. With her family finally reunited, Natasha will have to become Black Widow once more to save the world from the evils of the Red Room.
Whether or not you still think this could’ve been made in the first place anytime after the character made her debut in “Iron Man 2,” there’s enough here to satisfy the fanbase as well as causal viewers. Though not grand in scope as the last two Avengers films that some fans might decry as disappointing, this is still a solid Marvel movie in its own right. The action is superb as well as the digital effects work that helps to enhance the visual appeal. Both the chase scenes and the aerial climax also help keep the excitement going.
As for the story, it goes for the spy/thriller genre similar to what the “Captain America” sequels did previously only more inspired by the 70s Roger Moore-era Bond films. It all works fine except it lacks all the grit and surprise that “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” bought. There’s also the family melodrama aspect which works better thanks to the strong work on the characters by the actors. Much like “F9,” the theme of family is resonant especially amid all the chaos in the action. Thankfully, Marvel doesn’t go too overboard in its action to make a good movie.
Johansson once again has Natasha down, this time showing more vulnerability as well as her fighting scenes. Pugh makes her strong MCU debut bringing the right amount of grit and emotion to her character that’ll get you to want to see more of. Another strong debut is Harbour gifted with a hilarious and likable performance, while Weisz is pretty good in the motherly role. The Taskmaster makes for a formidable opponent for the film, whereas Winstone is basically replaying his role from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull but with a quieter tone.
Regardless of how anyone will rank it among the top MCU films, “Black Widow” is still fun, superhero entertainment helping to bring Marvel Studios back to the big screen. Slowly but surely, we’re starting to finally see normalcy in our summer movie season thanks in part to this film. Not to mention, Marvel’s keeping the ball rolling with more titles coming out later this year like “Shang-Chi” and the “Legend of the Ten Rings and Eternals.”
THE MOVIE’S RATING: PG-13 (for sequences of violence/action, some language, and thematic elements)
THE CRITIC’S RATING: 3.5 Stars (Out of Four)
