Non-Spoiler Review: Black Widow

From the moment Scarlett Johansson graced our screens as the illustrious Natasha Romanoff fans begged for her to have her own film. Finally, after building the character over ten years and making it through a slew of delays, their wish has been granted, and let me tell you, it was worth the wait. 

While Black Widow is not an origin story, it gives the proper background that we’ve been craving to see. What Marvel has always done well is base its stories around a family dynamic. As fans may know, Natasha has always been on her own, but this sheds light on her relationship with Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh). 

The film kicks off after Civil War with Natasha on the run. It introduces us to her former “family” as they reunite to destroy the Red Room where Black Widows are created. 

While the film is marketed as a superhero movie, it’s more of an espionage thriller on par with Captain America: The Winter Soldier. This is a woman with no superpowers. There’s no magic, no radioactive component, and no super-soldier serum. She is pure strength and skill. Yes, we have seen how powerful she is throughout the MCU, but the film packs a punch, especially introducing characters who match her skill set level. 

That brings me to Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova. What. A Treat! Florence Pugh not only matches Johansson’s fighting skills, but she also lights up the screen in personality. The two together work. They are electric and hold a perfect “sisterly” dynamic. Her dry humor keeps the film’s energy flowing, while her childlike wonderment makes the audience connect to the story. On top of that, she gives one incredible performance. 

To round off the family dynamic, David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian brings the campiness of the MCU to the film. At the same time, Rachel Weisz as Melina Vostokoff is the steady beat of authority. 

The story is ambitious, but it works. It feels a bit rushed toward the end, but it’s relatively easy to keep up with. I enjoyed the villains, and there is a twist to the taskmaster that I found to be a surprising and inspired choice. Taskmaster does feel a little secondary to the point of the plot and was also underused. That being said, when there were action scenes, they were electric.

Director Cate Shortland is known for her independent work, and it’s felt here. At times this big MCU film felt raw and rugged, but that’s what makes it stand out. Bringing the Indi style to this made Black Widow feel like a spy movie.

The opening credits are excellent and striking. I’d say they were one of my favorite parts of the film. The music mixed with the backstory was something you’ll be thinking about long after the movie ends. 

Black Widow does feel like a pocket story of the MCU, much like the stories shaping up on Disney Plus. This is mainly because it’s a one-off. It’s set in between Civil War and Infinity War. There is no big reveal, but it does feel like Marvel is playing the long game with the number of seeds planted with this film and the shows on the streaming service. The major win for Black Widow is its introduction of Yelena Belova, and that right there is worth every penny. Also, the end credits scene will give fans something to chew on as they await the next phase of the MCU. 

I do wish this movie would have happened sooner because I want more. If this was supposed to give fans closure to the character, I think it failed. I believe Natasha deserved more than this one film as a send-off. That being said, I still loved it. It’s what I was craving to see as not only a fan but as a woman. The amount of strong female characters on one screen almost made me tear up. This is something I wish existed when I was a kid.

Sure, it had some bad, like the CGI mess in the third act and plot points that fell flat, but Black Widow was worth the wait, and I hope to see more espionage MCU movies in the future.