Black Widow (2021) Movie Review

Fans have long awaited the standalone movie for Black Widow and Marvel finally decided to oblige!!! Directed by Cate Shortland, Black Widow begins by showing Natasha as a young girl with her sister Yelena being raised in Ohio by Alexei (David Harbour) and Melina (Rachel Weisz). They are seemingly a normal family but it is revealed that Alexei and Melina are Russian spies. Upon completing their mission, the “family” is broken up and the young girls are turned into killing machines by Dreykov (Ray Winstone).

Then we flit to just after Captain America: Civil War and Natasha (Scarlett Johansson) is on the run from her own government. In a hideout in remote Norway, Natasha receives a package from Yelena (Florence Pugh) containing a chemical that releases the Widows from the Red Room imposed mind control. The sisters reunite and hatch a plan to break Alexei, the Red Guardian, out of prison. Then comes a true reunion as Alexei brings them to Melina’s. Natasha and Yelena go on a mission to find Dreykov, who was previously thought to be dead, and destroy the Red Room and free the other Widows.

What made Black Widow so much fun was the characters. We already know Johansson is perfect as Natasha but the addition of new characters Alexei, Melina, and Yelena truly paid off. Most of that is due to the performances. David Harbour played the blowhard Red Guardian exactly right, mouthing off about his glory days incessantly but showcasing a tender heart when it comes to his family. Rachel Weisz was also terrific, playing off of Harbour well and keeping you guessing as to which side she was truly loyal to. However, the absolute standout of the cast was Florence Pugh who stole scene after scene and crafted the most captivating character. She offered some comic relief when necessary and provided much of the emotional kick in the relationship between Natasha and Yelena.

I find that in most Marvel movies the villains are not as strong as they could be. For Black Widow the main “foe” is Taskmaster, a robot who can mimic someone’s fighting style. While the action scenes are snappy and tight, Taskmaster doesn’t have any personality and seemed like a drab stand-in for a more interesting villain. Dreykov and the Red Room are the more theoretical villains harnessing young girls and using chemicals to mind control them into becoming killing machines. There are some obvious parallels between current news stories wherein women’s choices are being made for them and their free will is being stifled. It is an interesting thought piece and a welcome twist for the Widows story.

Although the movie is two hours and fourteen minutes long, it never felt like it lagged. This is a credit to Shortland’s direction as she ushers us from one scene to the next without wasting any time. She captures the action scenes beautifully and the rare scenes without fighting involve funny bits of dialogue and some heartwarming bonding moments. There is rarely a scene that felt like a waste. Perhaps what I liked most about Black Widow is that it didn’t feel like a “superhero” movie. Despite the familiar tie-in elements like constantly mentioning the Avengers and Captain America, Black Widow felt more like a spy thriller than a Marvel movie. Natasha and Yelena made a great team and the mission felt more like an undercover spy operation than a superhero spectacle. That might be a turn off for some, but it was a refreshing change of pace for me personally.

Black Widow made me wish that Natasha wouldn’t have met her end in Avengers: Endgame but alas you have to let some characters go. It’s clear from this movie that she is handing the baton to Yelena and I’m excited to see where they take that storyline. All in all Black Widow was insanely fun to watch, particularly if you love Natasha. It didn’t take itself too seriously but provided a mostly compelling plot and some kick ass fighting sequences. Plus it’s worth it to see the MVP of the movie, Florence Pugh, steal the show. 

Film or Movie: Movie
You’ll like this movie if:
1. You like Natasha AKA Black Widow
2. You’ve been waiting for a Black Widow standalone movie for FOREVER
3. You like action mixed with comedic bits