A Reel Review: BLACK WIDOW

In 2010, actress Scarlett Johansson debuted Marvel’s famed master-assassin character Black Widow in IRON MAN 2; nearly stealing the show in the process. She reprised the character seven more times in a supporting role across the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), including her heroic end in AVENGERS: ENDGAME (2019). Here in 2021, after a long delay, she finally gets her own film in BLACK WIDOW. 

 

Just after the events of CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016), Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Johansson), is in hiding in Europe. She is pulled back into her former life as a Russian superspy when she is contacted by fellow Black Widow Yelena (Florence Pugh), and learns that the old Black Widow program is still going; led by General Dreykov (Ray Winstone), and his henchman, the deadly Taskmaster. 

 

BLACK WIDOW is a film that has a lot to do. It works to fill in Natasha’s backstory while giving her a vital mission to complete which set in-between two of the biggest Marvel films. To accomplish her mission, Natasha and Yelena must first break out of prison former Soviet super-soldier Red Guardian/Alexei (David Harbour), and then find retired Widow Melina (Rachel Weisz). But unlike re-assembling the Avengers, this is a case of re-opening old wounds as the four of them were once sleeper agents posing as an American family…with old relationships, feelings, and grudges still very much alive. 

 

Director Cate Shortland is working on a theme of family here, with Natasha and Yelena as former sisters hashing out their grievances with each other and the two adults who once posed as their parents. The bigger picture at work is Dreykov’s recruitment (or abduction) of women, who are then brainwashed and built as his personal covert army. It’s a theme of how women are treated as a commodity, and for Natasha, this is another opportunity to wipe out the red in her ledger. 

 

The themes at work are actually so good that they overshadow the action. While the action scenes are well-staged across street-chases, gunfights, and a finale of a floating fortress, they are shown in a hectic manner and it’s often difficult to tell what’s going on. There is a too much sense of urgency in places and many scenes are not given enough room to breath. The film works better when it’s grounded and spending time with its characters. It’s no dealbreaker as there is still a lot of that Marvel fun to be had. 

 

Acting is excellent. Scarlett Johansson, who is likely playing the character for the last time, gives it her all and it shows. David Harbour is a blast as the former Soviet super-soldier, and Rachel Weisz is always perfect. The MVP of the film is Florence Pugh, who carries the most emotional baggage. 

 

For a film that is set firmly between CIVIL WAR and AVENGERS: INFINTY WAR (2018), BLACK WIDOW doesn’t feel essential, but it does fill in several gaps and adds depth and backstory to a character that we thought we knew so well. Natasha gets a well-deserved tribute and farewell, and her legacy, courtesy of a whopper of a post-credit scene, will be carried forward in the MCU. 

 

BOTTOM LINE: See it