Black Widow (2021) (Review)

 


The Marvel Cinematic Universe is back on the big screen for the first time in two years, with the long-awaited Black Widow solo film marking a new dawn for the world's biggest franchise. Following the grand finale of Avengers: Endgame and the Spider-Man: Far From Home epilogue, Phase Four begins with Scarlett Johansson's latest - and most likely final - appearance as Natasha Romanoff, the titular alter ego and founding Avenger.

Set after the events of Captain America: Civil War, Romanoff remains on the run but is confronted by her own past and relationships that had broken down long before she became an Avenger. Starring Johansson and introducing Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Rachel Weisz, O-T Fagbenle and Ray Winstone into the franchise, Cate Shortland directs the long-delayed prequel story.

A spy drama and character drama disguised as a superhero film, Black Widow will not be the earth-shattering blockbuster people have come to expect when the word 'Marvel' is plastered across their films, but it is all the stronger for its thoughtful, grounded approach, and placement of its characters above all else. Holding back on the world-ending stakes for a more intimate, family-centring drama that provides greater detail and richer shade to an already-established character and her backstory, Black Widow uses its positioning as a prequel to its advantage, allowing a cleaner focus and avoiding the need to justify itself. While people may question the necessity of a film whose character has already completed her tenure within the film's narrative, the picture establishes the wider cinematic universe nicely by lining key players as a new era begins.

While Marvel films have often thrived by operating with a sense of escapism, Black Widow is rooted in the real world, drawing parallels with current events and issues facing the world. Eric Pearson's screenplay, developed from a story by Jay Shaeffer and Ned Benson, examines society's treatment of women and touches upon modern-day slavery and trafficking, providing weight and substance to the overall. This, operating alongside core MCU themes such as family and unity, sees the franchise continues to evolve in an arguably more mature direction.

Cate Shortland directs her first major motion picture with real sophistication. Handling the quieter moments of the picture and the grander action sequences with equal confidence, Shortland lands on an impressive balance that means the film can somewhat break away from the wider Marvel formula while still providing audiences with the thrilling moments they expect from the genre. Even with the odd ropey CGI moments, the action is mostly crisp and cleanly executed, with the stunt work particularly impressive and viscerally felt; meanwhile, the handheld camerawork infuses a tenderness that supports the tender theme work and emphasises the picture's sense of heart. Enriched by a strong score and soundtrack, as well as some terrific costuming, Black Widow is certainly worthy of the big screen.

Scarlett Johansson, having been somewhat cheated of a triumphant farewell given her premature Endgame death, gets the swansong she deserves with one last appearance that provides greater depth to Natasha. Giving her the opportunity to explore her family history and backstory allows her to deepen her performance, registering one of her strongest turns in the series to date. Florence Pugh proves herself to be one of the most exciting pieces of casting in the extended universe bringing her immense versatility as an actress to the role of Yelena Belova. Starting a promising future in the role and series with a bang, Pugh would prove to be an exceptionally assured pair of hands to move Phase Four forward with should the opportunity come for her to do so. David Harbour hams his performance up and while Rachel Weisz is under-utilised, the family dynamic is a joy to watch unfold.

Those expecting a full-scale outing comparable in scope to more recent Avenger triumphs may be disappointed by what is essentially an intimate, family-driven character study playing in the spy genre sandbox more so than the superhero one. But those willing to appreciate this more grounded effort will find the change of pace offered by Black Widow refreshing, managing to somewhat break away from the Marvel formula while still providing the excitement that most come to enjoy. With thrilling action, plenty of laughs and a great deal of heart, Black Widow helps solidify the post-Endgame Marvel Cinematic Universe, while operating as a fond farewell for Scarlett Johansson and her Natasha Romanoff.