Directed by: Cate Shortland
Written by: Eric Pearson, based on a story by Jac Shaeffer and Ned Benson
Starring:
Scarlett Johannson as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow
Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova
David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov
Rachel Weisz as Melina Vostokoff
Ray Winstone as General Dreykov
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence/action, some language, and thematic material
Runtime: 133 minutes
I’ve always wanted to know more about Natasha Romanoff (Scarlet Johannson) and her origins. She was always one of the most interesting Avengers because, next to Tony Stark, she doesn’t possess superpowers. Sure, Stark wears a high-powered suit, but Romanoff has amazing fighting and weapon skills. I’ve always had more of an interest and admiration for these types of heroes, like Batman in the Justice League.
Black Widow (2021) gives us a good look into Romanoff’s life away from the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D. Its setting takes place after the events of Captain America: Civil War (2016). The Avengers battled in an empty airport hangar; some got captured, and some escaped. Captain America and Bucky Barnes continued with their quest after Romanoff assisted them in their escape. However, that was the last we saw of Romanoff, and I wanted to know what happened to her.
She hides in a trailer in the middle of Norway, living off canned food and watching old James Bond movies. However, Romanoff finds herself in trouble again when a mysterious soldier finds her. She finds out that the soldier isn’t after her, but after some mysterious red vials that were inadvertently in her possession.
Romanoff turns to Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh). Romanoff and Belova grew up together, prior to being forced into a life of training as super soldiers, A.K.A. The Widows. Together, they discover that more Widows are in training and are under the control of the evil General Dreykov (Ray Winstone).
Along for the quest are Alexei Shostakov (David Harbour) and Melina Vostokoff (Rachel Weisz), who were Romanoff and Belova’s estranged “adoptive parents.” Shostakov used to be a soldier nearly equal to Captain America and developed a grudge against him. I think it’s only because Captain America can still fit into his costume. The family thought they were serving the greater good with their assignment in Ohio back in 1995. Once they discovered Dreykov’s evil ways, they now believe that bringing him and his army of Widows down will be better.
The performances and the relationships between the characters were all fun to watch. I also love how they all have a soft spot for Don McLean’s “American Pie.” Pugh was a standout because she stole every scene. The humor was also great, especially in the scenes involving Harbour.
I did have a good time watching this film, especially after being absent from the theater for sixteen months, but I am not giving it a perfect rating. I am still recommending it, but a couple of scenes made me roll my eyes.
One example is where Romanoff and Belova are buying supplies before they start their journey. It was humorous, but lacking in believability. People on the run and trying to lay low shouldn’t be talking about what’s at stake while buying supplies in a merchant store. The clerk could’ve called in an anonymous tip.
The plot also seemed a little rushed to me. I know that the movie should not bore an audience, but perhaps give it a little more setup before the excitement happens. The movie entertained me thoroughly, but I wanted more setup before thrills. The backstory seemed a little too buried in the action.
The following paragraph contains a spoiler for Avengers: Endgame (2019).
It was refreshing seeing Johannson play Romanoff again. I felt that her character did not receive a proper remembrance after she sacrificed her life to help save humanity. This movie made up for that.
I’m not sure where the Marvel Cinematic Universe will go from here, but I love how this film bridged the gap between two older MCU films. There are also shows on Disney+ that I need to catch up on. I loved “WandaVision,” but I need to start watching “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” and “Loki.” The way Black Widow ended reminded me that I need to get on that.
This was a good film to watch after COVID-19 kept me from going to the movies. I was so happy to be back. I was also pleased to have seen Black Widow on the big screen. Hopefully, Marvel gets back on track with their future releases and their streak of great superhero movies. This film has enough to satisfy an audience going into a Marvel movie. They will not be disappointed.
★★★☆
