The Stream: A bit too long and feels stagnant to the overall MCU storyline

The Big Screen: Very good action sequences

The Final Bill: Long overdue solo film for Black Widow but feels like a dollar late and dollar short

– S2S: Movie Review
Director: Cate Shortland
Writers: Eric Pearson (screenplay by), Jac Schaeffer (story by), Ned Benson (story by)
Stars: Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, Rachel Weisz, David Harbour
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Rating: PG-13 (Violence, Slight language, a lot of drinking in mother Russia Vodka drinks you!)
Runtime: 2 hours 3 minutes (Post credit scene adds about 3-4 more minutes)
Production Companies: Marvel Studios, Truenorth Productions (production services: Norway) (as Truenorth)
Platform: Released in theaters July 9, 2021 (will be on Disney+ eventually)

What’s scarier than a black widow spider today? A black widow spider haunting you from a year ago. That’s exactly what we have before us this weekend folks. The long-awaited released of Marvel and pandemic delayed, Black Widow – of course, starring the beautiful, Scarlett Johansson (Yost?) as the beloved, turncoat super spy/assassin Natasha Romanoff a.k.a. Black Widow. This film follows Natasha after Civil War but prior to Infinity War. We all wondered what occurred with her in that time to be with Captain and Sam and now we know. She went on a blast-from-the-past trip to clear her ledger of red. Let’s see if this film really was needed in the MCU universe.

I’ll put it like this, Endgame gave Natasha one of the most heartfelt, poignant, sincere and redeeming ends a hero could ever ask for. This Black Widow film finds a way to undo that and just rehash the wounds of her impending doom. In reality, this movie deserved to be made prior to Infinity War and Marvel really screwed the pooch by letting this linger. The story itself could’ve been set in between any of the movies, particularly after Iron Man 2. In fact, this movie feels like a sequel rather than an “origin story”, which in a way only enhances my feeling of what if they truly appreciated a strong female spy lead in the Marvel universe. With that said, the viewer feels like they’ve been thrown inside a moving bus and don’t know where they are headed because it’s so out of place in the MCU timeline, including the TV shows. Marvel really just missed out on capitalizing on what is otherwise a solid movie by having it released outside of the first 4 phases of the universe.

Nevertheless, Black Window on it’s own is a very solid movie. The biggest knock of the movie has to be it’s too long for a movie that really isn’t going anywhere. We all know from Endgame that she’s gone but is she gone forever? We hope not. Either way, there’s a ton of dialogue and almost too little action when considering the more than two hour runtime. Nevertheless, the dialogue is clever, funny at times, and endearing as well. In fact, that sums up the movie from beginning to end. From the backstory we learn to the unrequited love at the end, Black Widow works. The cast is very strong, even Pugh with what seems like a terrible accent at times. I think viewers will want to see more of these characters and judging by the movie talks and the post credit scene, they will be obliged. On top of that, the viewer will be entertained by the typical action. We’ve all gotten used to the big explosions, the chases, and fight scenes. Black Widow certainly isn’t lacking for any of these things particularly with the addition of Taskmaster, which I would’ve wanted more from.

Ultimately, Black Widow is a good story that is too late for the franchise. Even if this movie came out during the pandemic, the film was too late in the grand scheme of things. This ultimately hurts the movies rating overall. The film more rehashes old wounds than gives a beloved character a just due, like she received in Endgame. Everyone should definitely check this film out for the matinee price and you absolutely won’t go wrong once the film hits Disney+ without the premium price. So grab your bowl of popcorn and watch Black Widow and family handle some business.