“This would be a cool way to die.” —Yelena
Today’s quick review: Black Widow. While hiding in Europe, Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) learns that the Red Room, the Russian program that made her into an assassin, has targeted her sister Yelena (Florence Pugh) for death. To take down the Red Room once and for all, Natasha and Yelena turn to the Russian sleeper agents who helped raise them: Alexei (David Harbour), a disgraced superhero, and Melina (Rachel Weisz), a neuroscientist.
Black Widow is a superhero action thriller set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Taking place after the events of Captain America: Civil War, Black Widow explores some of the loose ends from Natasha Romanoff’s past, including the lingering shadow of the Red Room and her troubled relationship with her surrogate family. The movie crosses a spy thriller plot with superhero action, but it comes up short compared to Marvel’s best.
Black Widow scores points with its family dynamic and its action. Even though their time as a family was just a cover, it still had a profound impact on Natasha, Yelena, Alexei, and Melina. Revisiting their relationship—especially the contrast between Natasha’s bitter memories and Yelena’s wistful ones—gives the movie an interesting emotional angle which is unike anything else in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
As far as action is concerned, Black Widow does well but not outstanding. The action sequences are a mixture of chase scenes and hand-to-hand combat, peppered with a couple of memorable set pieces. Taskmaster, a masked killer trained in the Avengers’ fighting styles, provides the main muscle for the Red Room. The fights are not as sharply choreographed as in movies like Captain America: The Winter Soldier, but they should satisfy action fans.
However, Black Widow suffers from a few notable flaws. The plot logic is always loose and gets looser during the last third of the movie. The film is clumsy with the way it moves its characters around, forcing them into certain situations rather than letting them act naturally. General Dreykov (Ray Winstone) is a missed opportunity, a villain with minimal screen time and a weak presence. Finally, the one or two plot twists are not that dramatic.
Black Widow is a solid pick for anyone who enjoys Marvel movies or spy-themed action in general. Although it is missing the polish seen in other Marvel offerings, it makes a place for itself with engaging character interactions, capable fight scenes, and a serviceable plot. Give it a shot when you are in the mood for popcorn action set in an isolated corner of the MCU. Skip it if you are looking for a more down-to-earth spy flick.
Check out Captain America: The Winter Soldier for a farther-reaching Marvel movie in the same vein. For a stylish Cold War action thriller with a greater emphasis on plot, try Atomic Blonde. For an action thriller about a Russian secret agent, try Salt or Anna. For a subdued drama about the training of a female assassin, try La Femme Nikita. For a darker and more lascivious thriller about the process, try Red Sparrow.
[6.8 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3480822/). I give it a 7.0 for solid action and character work, held back by some story issues.