Scarlett Johansson reprises her role as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow in one of the most long-awaited Marvel origin stories, ‘Black Widow’ (out 8 July).
Since the Black Widow – a founding member of the Avengers – made her Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) debut in ‘Iron Man 2’ (2010), die-hard Marvel fans have been clamouring for a standalone film featuring the superheroine, particularly considering the airtime dedicated to her male counterparts, Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Hulk and Hawkeye. This movement only gained momentum after the Black Widow’s selfless demise in ‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019). But does it live up to the hype?
Set between the films ‘Captain America: Civil War’ (2016) and ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ (2018) and kicking off Marvel’s highly anticipated Phase 4, ‘Black Widow’ explores Natasha’s past, her family, and redemption, while also establishing the Black Widow as a force unto herself, and not just a sexualised side-kick.
Sure, Johansson is easy on the eye, however ‘Black Widow’ acknowledges (albeit tongue in cheek) the disservice it has done to the character previously, instead granting the only female Avengers member the same strength and self-sufficiency afforded to her male counterparts.
Opening in Ohio in the ‘90s, ‘Black Widow’ quickly establishes the backstory of both Natasha and her 'sister' Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) who are recruited unwillingly into Russia’s Red Room Program as sleeper agents and deadly assassins.
Fast-forward to present-day, and the estranged sisters are now fugitives on the run, but both hell-bent on finding justice against female oppression and taking down the Leader of the Red Room, Dreykov (Ray Winstone).
Chock-full of fight scenes, the film is bound to satisfy lovers of kick-ass action sequences, however as a viewer who experiences sensory overload and thereby checks outs during rapidly edited battle scenes (think every 'Transformers' movie post 2007), give me a good old-fashioned pursuit scene any day. Thankfully, ‘Black Widow’ delivers here in spades, with a thrilling car chase and rooftop foot chase through Budapest my personal favourite action sequence.
The supporting cast is stellar, with an honourable mention going to Rachel Weisz who plays mother figure to Natasha and Yelena, and super-spy Melina Vostokof. But it was David Harbour (‘Quantum of Solace’, ‘Stranger Things’) in the role of Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian that stole the show for me, with his character delivering a welcome smattering of comedic relief and the beating heart of the film.
Marvel producers seem to pride themselves on featuring some of the most iconic and classic songs of all time (hello, ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’), and the ‘Black Widow’ soundtrack is no exception. An orchestral cover of Nirvana's 1991 hit ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ performed by Malia J playing over a montage showing Natasha’s time at the Red Room (the Soviet-era training camp that taught her to be a master spy and assassin) was an early highlight.
So where to from here for the 'Black Widow' franchise? MCU fans know Natasha’s fate. As for Yelena’s and that of the Black Widow's, sit tight for the post-credits scene.
’Black Widow’ is in cinemas 8 July and on Disney+ Premier Access 9 July.
