The Tangled Web of the Black Widow

As Marvel Studios' first theatrical release in two years, "Black Widow" gives Scarlett Johansson the long-awaited opportunity to headline her own solo adventure

It's incredible to think the last time audiences saw the MCU on the big screen, they were bidding farewell to some of their favorite heroes in "Avengers: Endgame" and tagging along with Peter Parker for the sophomore follow-up, "Spider-Man: Far From Home", two summers ago. For a studio that's released a minimum of one film annually since 2010, a two year gap seemed unthinkable. However, even the most dominant cinematic property in the world wasn't immune to the effects of the pandemic. As a result, the release date for "Black Widow" was shuffled no less than three times, before finally settling into a slot in July. It premiered in cinemas this past weekend and on Disney Plus, but the question remaining is was it worth the wait?

The film picks up after the events of "Captain America: Civil War" and starts with Natasha Romanoff (Johansson) on the run. Despite her best efforts to stay off the radar, her brief moment of seclusion is interrupted after her long-lost sister Yelena (Florence Pugh) sends her a mysterious package. Together, they must fight for their lives and come face-to-face with their pasts after uncovering a deadly secret. The movie also features David Harbour in a hilariously spirited turn as Red Guardian, Rachel Weisz as Melina, Ray Winstone as the villainous Dreykov and an inspired bit of casting with Ever Anderson as a young Natasha (who convincingly looks both like Johansson and exactly like her mother Milla Jovovich). The score was fittingly provided by "Mission: Impossible - Fallout" composer Lorne Balfe.

On the surface,"Black Widow" delivers just as it should. It has some exciting action setpieces, its humor is well-placed, there are some bold undertones working in service of the story, it passes the Bechdel test and it's very much par for the course when it comes to Marvel's brand of entertainment. However, there are a number of peculiarities associated with it. The film is somehow simultaneously about half a decade overdue, yet perfectly suited for the delays it encountered due to its placement within the franchise's timeline. There's the irony while it represents Johansson's first (and last?) chance to lead a movie playing the role she inhabited for ten years, it's Florence Pugh's character who gets a lot of the spotlight. It's also odd the film sheds some light on Natasha's backstory, while not offering true insight into anything new. This leads to a sense of emotional weightlessness that ultimately feels like a missed opportunity. Those elements, along with some creative and editing choices, make "Black Widow" a bit underwhelming. However, director Cate Shortland's handling of the visceral action sequences and Eric Pearson's screenplay (with story credits by Jac Shaffer and Ned Benson) are solid enough to channel the kind of energy expected from a Marvel project. It's a flawed, but highly watchable blockbuster that ultimately does a better job of signaling the franchise's future than elaborating on its past. B-