Black Widow (2021) - Was it worth the wait?...

*Minor MCU Spoilers Ahead*

For MARVEL fans, the last 2 years have been tough. No new cinematic releases since Spider-Man: Far From Home in the summer of 2019. And while the recent pantheon of spin off material on Disney + has begun to create stepping stones for the future of the series, fans still craved a new film, after all the phase 4 films were pushed back by Covid-19 and other devastating turns of events, such as the tragic loss of Chadwick Boseman. But the question still remains, was the stand alone film for MARVEL’s Black Widow worth the extra year’s wait?….

Short and sweet answer, YES! Without a doubt. If Far From Home hadn’t cemented the fact that the MCU hadn’t run out of steam post-Endgame, then this film certainly would’ve. It finally gives us not only the chance to see a fan favourite character in action again for a grand finale, but also begins to fill in a period of time that fans have been curious about for quite some time. And thankfully, we are given plenty of time to explore this part of the “Pre-Infinity War” timeline, with a well laid out pacing that doesn’t bore the audience with long pauses in drama and action. It’s unknown whether the editors used the extra year to their advantage, in order to fine tune the film’s pacing. But if they didn’t, and the film has been waiting in storage like this for a year, this makes their editing work more impressive.

The main bulk of the story takes place in the middle of 2016, very shortly after the events of Captain America: Civil War, and while rewatching that for a recap wouldn’t be essential, it might enhance the experience more of you go straight from one film to another. For those who love to organise this series into chronological order, I would keep these two films firmly together. There appears to be no pause in events, so it wouldn’t make huge sense to put a different film between them.

Natasha Romanoff was always an entertaining part of the Avengers cast, and often got some of the best moments when it came to action. But while Scarlett Johansson was always entertaining in her portrayal, there wasn’t much time for her character to properly grow. We’ve learnt a bit about her past, and how she feels about the red room that “made her”, but it was mainly in abrupt exposition dumps in 2015’s Age Of Ultron. It never felt natural then, due to how many other plot threads were being crammed in with it. Thankfully, this film gives Natasha the attention she thoroughly deserves. This is without a doubt Scarlett Johansson’s stand out performance as Natasha, which is exceptional when you consider this is her last performance for the MCU for the time being. While there isn’t a possibility for her to return to the main story line, there is always the possibility that more can be done in this part of the timeline.

Natasha’s guilt over her violent past is properly demonstrated here. You have the typical MARVEL humour, but it now feels far more natural in it’s placement, and it doesn’t upstage the drama. The film maintains a high level of tension, letting us explore Natasha’s current mindset, and how she eventually becomes the clear minded leader that she becomes in Infinity War. It’s also really nice to show the connection between Natasha and her… kinda family. You will learn how the family who she spent the first few years of her life with, aren’t actually her family, yet that family bond is so evidently strong. The standout performance alongside Johansson is definitely Florence Pugh, who’s literal fresh eyes on the situation is really interesting to watch. She and Johansson bounce off one another incredibly well, and she can really hold herself in the action scenes. It’s unlikely we’ll see Johanson in the MCU again, so I really hope Florence Pugh comes back for more adventures.

Another aspect I love is the fact the film doesn’t need to be spelt out that these four are a family unit, because it’s explicitly clear throughout their time on screen. You don’t need to verbally remind the audience about this being a family like some overblown Fast & Furious sequel, just demonstrate it through the visual storytelling, and the audience will get it. Remember: SHOW, DON’T TELL!

The set pieces in this film are beautifully photographed. I normally am very critical of MARVEL’s digital cinematography, which for a long time was drab and lacking colour. But I can see a huge leap in how this film was shot and colour graded. Proper black values and eye popping colours wherever needed. I also love the variety in action sequences. Break outs, car crashes and tense sky based climaxes. Each sequence has something unique about it which keeps the audience engaged and on the edge of their seat. Is there too much CG work? Yeah, but this is something I’m use to with MARVEL now. Plus the CG is top class as always, so provided the work is good and blends in, I suppose there’s little to complain about.

Now is this film a masterpiece?… Almost! I do feel the villain’s lair reminded me too much of the villain’s lair in 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story, but thankfully the villain while not hugely developed, is far more threatening in this film. The music is also the typical MARVEL affair. White noise which just re-emphasises the emotions conveyed on screen. It does that very well, and fits the film very well, but I’m not sure how often one will want to listen to the music on its own. There is kind of a theme for Natasha in this film, which while very calm and understated, really sells the feeling of the film, and the emotions built inside Natasha. Not every character theme needs to be BIG and BOOMING, some like this can sell you the character in a more subtle way.

Overall, I’m delighted that Black Widow is finally out for people to watch, and I highly recommend that if you feel safe doing so, buy a ticket for your local cinema, and go watch it on the biggest screen you can. The MCU has finally cemented the beginning of it’s fourth phase, and in the process, has given Scarlett Johansson’s popular character a truly wonderful send off. For years, female lead superhero films have had a very mixed response. Super Girl from the 1980s didn’t bring the same level of awe inspiring wonder of other projects. And while a huge leap forward, the recent Wonder Woman projects still suffer from the modern DC tropes. Even MARVEL’s own Captain Marvel was underwhelming in it’s first female lead outing. This film however gives female lead superhero films a new shining beacon. This film will stand proud alongside the likes of Captain America and Iron Man for years to come. You know a film and a leading actress are really good, when you are left clamming for more from them both.

It’s great to have you back, MARVEL!

SCORES

Story: 4/5

Characters: 4.5/5

Production: 5/5

Acting: 5/5

Music: 4/5

TOTAL: 9/10