DisneyExaminer

  • Home
  • About
  • Movies
  • Disney+
  • Theme Parks
  • Products
  • Editorials
  • Disneyland Tickets

“Black Widow” is an origin story and moving tribute to Natasha Romanov [spoiler-free review]

  • by Jordan Poblete
  • in Marvel · Movie Reviews
  • — 7 Jul, 2021

So much of what we come to love about the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes from the long-term connections we’ve had to Iron Man, Captain America, and the other of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

But now that we’ve officially moved on from the core Avengers with 2019’s “Endgame,” what is to be said about the future of the MCU? No need to look further than the next MCU film that begins Phase 4 – “Black Widow.”

And “Black Widow” is very much about Black Widow herself, also known as Natasha Romanov. As one of the original Avengers introduced in the MCU, we still haven’t been able to glimpse into her origin story or really even say a goodbye to her after the demise in the final Avengers film.

Those holes are filled with her standalone film. As has been reported, “Black Widow” takes place in between the events of “Captain America: Civil War” and “Avengers: Infinity War,” which means pre-Snap and pre-her-death. 

It’s a very interesting place to put a movie that filmmakers wanted to be an origin story film as well as a tribute to her before her passing because there very much is room for a new narrative to grow.

One of those narratives is the origin story, and the first few minutes of the film does flashback to a time that then sets the tone of the entire film moving forward, as well as Natasha’s character arc. Get ready for an explanation for the Russian roots and the “family” issues that result from it.

The arc then spills into more of a tribute to the Black Widow character later on towards the conclusion of the film. So much of who Natasha was to us over the years as an audience was connected to Steve Rogers, Bruce Banner, Clint Barton and the rest of her Avengers family, but this film intentionally separates her from them to tell a more full story about what kind of person she is apart from avenging.

As we’ve seen in very short flashbacks and dialogue in referencing her past, Natasha Romanov’s history is complicated and at times very troubling as her young life was already scarred with physical abuse and emotional trauma that seemed to haunt her into the present. This standalone film leans into all that heavily, which means there will be times that the material might go pretty dark – so fair warning.

As an aside, the darkness is balanced out pretty well thanks to the comedic and light-hearted chops of the characters played by Florence Pugh and David Harbour!

However, like Western stories often do, it doesn’t end on a troublesome note, but a hopeful and maybe an unresolved one, setting us up for a new MCU that we can appreciate apart from the Avengers (so be sure to stay into the credits, too!) 

While we do know what happens to Black Widow eventually, “Black Widow” very much set up that sacrifice as not just as a necessary one, but one that is filled with intention as much as there is melancholy.

I can’t think of a more perfect Black Widow film than that itself.

Marvel Studios’ Black Widow is now playing in theaters and Disney+ with Premier Access.


Details (from IMDB) –

  • Runtime: 133 minutes
  • Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence/action, some language and thematic material.

All reviews are personal opinions and may not reflect the attitudes of other writers for DisneyExaminer.com unless stated otherwise.

These films have been screened prior to the release date for review purposes and therefore are viewed without charge courtesy of Marvel Studios/The Walt Disney Studios.

print
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Related

Share

— Jordan Poblete

DisneyExaminer Founder + Publisher. Walt inspired Disneyland, Disneyland inspired DisneyExaminer. Catch me at Disneyland. Reach me at jordan@disneyexaminer.com or on Twitter @jordiepoblete

You may also like...

  • Marvel Studios’ projects are becoming a genre itself. 26 Jul, 2019
  • Marvel Studios’ “What If…?” animated series is the Marvel toy box we all wanted 11 Aug, 2021
  • “Iron Man Will Return.” + Avengers 3 20 Jun, 2013
  • Look toward “McFarland, USA”: a review 19 Feb, 2015
  • Previous story Marvel Studios’ Black Widow cast and creatives chat about Natasha’s solo film
  • Next story “Monsters at Work” is a hi-larious addition to the Monstropolis world
  • Today is

  • Happening Now

    My Tweets
  • What’s Trending

    animation behind the scenes buena vista street business california adventure cars land christmas D23 expo DCA disney disney animation disney california adventure disney channel disney consumer products disneyexaminer disney interactive disneyland disneyland resort disney movie disney parks disney parks and resorts downtown disney exclusive food frozen FYI lucasfilm main street USA marvel marvel studios movie review new pixar review spoiler free star wars technology the force awakens walt disney walt disney animation studios walt disney company walt disney imagineering walt disney parks and resorts walt disney studios walt disney world
  • News Archive

  • Home
  • Walt Disney Studios
  • Marvel
  • “Black Widow” is an origin story and moving tribute to Natasha Romanov [spoiler-free review]
  • Hiya, Pal

    DisneyExaminer is a premier independent online magazine that takes a closer look at all things Disney.

    Founded and lovingly made in Orange County, California.

  • Subscribe To Our YouTube Channel

  • Search

  • Home
  • About
  • Movies
  • Disney+
  • Theme Parks
  • Products
  • Editorials
  • Disneyland Tickets

© 2008 - 2022 DisneyExaminer. All rights reserved.

 

Loading Comments...