2021 Summer Movie Season - Marvel Studios' Black Widow: Review & Analysis

 

Widow's Might!!!!! OG Avenger's Solo Movie is Overdue But Rock Solid Action Thriller!!!!!

Review By Brandon Porter

Nat's Defining Moment Has Come

Story Description 

Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) has endured a lot in her time. Once a KGB loyalist turned assassin, she found a new lease on life when she abandoned her destructive origins and pursued a straighter path. That path made her a loyal ally and friend as well as an integral member of the Avengers. But the past never seems to die. After her hand in the destructive escapade trying to apprehend Captain America and fugitive Bucky Barnes, Nat has gone off the grid to take the heat off her back. Unfortunately, that heat is starting to burn bright. When her old regime looks to reclaim her as their own, Natasha will have to rely on the most unexpected of allies…her estranged family. With her father the Red Guardian (David Harbour), her headstrong mother (Rachel Weisz), an equally capable sister Yelena (Florence Pugh) by her side, Natasha will confront her haunting past and the skilled combat specialist known as Taskmaster to break free of the shackles that continue to chain her to the woman she once was. 

No bond quite like sisterly bonds

Film Review

Serving as the 24th installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the first theatrical MCU film in two years, Black Widow is the long-awaited solo outing for one of the Avenger’s OG members. Director Cate Shortland leads Scarlett Johansson and a talented roster of actors in a high-octane thriller that finally gives Natasha Romanoff the overdue spotlight she deserves. After seeing the movie after a year of waiting, Black Widow may be incredibly overdue but it is nonetheless a solid chapter in the Marvel cinematic portfolio. Since her debut in 2010's Iron Man 2, Natasha Romanoff has developed tremendously as a character making her a fan favorite amongst the Marvel fanbase. Her tragic demise in Endgame served a purpose in the story but still left people feeling like her story would never be told. Thankfully, Marvel finally saw a chance to give Nat her very own spotlight and the wait was worth it. To start, Scarlett Johansson carries the film with ease to no one's surprise. She was one of the first Avengers to get introduced in the MCU's infancy and though it took a good ten years to give her the keys to her own vehicle, she drives this car like she was born to do it. Everything she has learned and accumulated from her years on screen shines through as she continues to show layers of regret, remorse, and vulnerability. Johansson is a more than capable leading lady and I'm thrilled she got the chance to tell this story with a character that has been with her for over a decade. In addition to Johansson, a number of supporting characters do just as well in carrying the load. Florence Pugh kills it as Yelena in what might be one of the best MCU character debuts since Shuri in Black Panther. Pugh is a rising star in the industry and I'm thrilled to see that her talents are on full display playing this character.

Alexei Stands by his daughters in their time of need

The sass, snark, and dry humor she throws out there keep things from getting stale, and her chemistry with Johansson really adds heart to the story thanks to some terrific banter between the two of them in a number of tense moments. I for one cannot wait to see what Yelena brings to the table in this new phase of the MCU. Also bringing awesome things to the table is David Harbour as Alexei. He is a riot in the film and just comes off as this lovable goof with the strength of Captain America and the heart of a gummi bear. Harbour brought the majority of the laughs in the film and embraced the comic relief role with ease. Others like Rachel Weisz and Ray Winstone did great in their roles with the latter crafting an antagonist that is cruel, sadistic, and scarily mirrors a few individuals in the modern-day. 

He's clearly up to the task of facing the Avengers

Speaking on that, besides the fast-paced action the encompasses the majority of the film, the movie does bring up some dark and hard-hitting thematic undertones that merely just peak out but don't take center stage. These types of contextual elements could have been explored more but it doesn't detract from an otherwise solidly crafted film. Still, it would have been great to see the movie touch on these subjects more heavily resulting in a story that is equal parts adrenaline-pumping and thought-provoking. That said, Black Widow is a great addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe that serves as a long-overdue outing for this fan-favorite hero. It may not break the mold or do anything that could shake the foundation of the universe but it's still great to see Natasha Romanoff get the much-needed story she's long deserved.

Rating and Final Thoughts

A thrillingly entertaining Solo outing for one of the OG Avengers that is action-packed and fun while
still showing signs of a more complex narrative just below the surface.

Got here late but hey better late than never.