After the whirlwind roller coaster that was 2020, lots of fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) were left out in the dust wanting and aching for a new big-screen release. As time passed, I became more skeptical of Black Widow as its release date was pushed back. I was wanting for a huge MCU knockout that would leave us on the edge of our seats but fearful because the date kept changing. I was excited when Disney invited us to an advanced screening at the El Capitan in Hollywood. With so much time waiting, could Black Widow deliver on my MCU anticipation?
Oh, it delivered. It delivered big time! Black Widow has now become one of my top three favorite films in the MCU. Its action, stunts, and directing are crafted beautifully. Its tone and message will stick with you for a long time.
Let’s tackle the most outstanding part of the movie, the tone. The tone and underlying message of this movie is dark, and when I say dark, I mean very dark. Or at least, darker than most Marvel films. I would compare it to that of The Winter Soldier. Warning: This is not a movie to take your children to. Although all of the MCU movies thus far have been acceptable for younger audiences, Black Widow has a dark tone and tackles some very sensitive issues that may be too much for smaller children. I recommend making it a date night movie. I would rate this movie for ages 12 and up for its mature themes and underlying messages. (My mom agrees!)
Now having said that, this does not mean that the movie is dark throughout, and it especially doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t see it. If you enjoy action, then buckle up because this movie opens with a bang and keeps the action at a 10 throughout. I would rank Black Widow’s action as tied for #2 along with Captain America Civil War, just barely beaten out by Infinity War. This movie plays out like that of a Mission Impossible movie, but it leaves room for its own MCU twist.
As a whole Black Widow never had a moment that you would want to miss as each part cleverly twists callbacks and call forwards into its story. The film takes place right after Captain America Civil War so I highly suggest that if your brain is a bit fuzzy on the MCU timeline, give it a watch. The MCU’s classic humor returns, and while many have complained in the past that the humor was too much, this movie packs just the right amount in to have you captivated in the story while also making time for you to laugh. If you’re on the fence about seeing it in the theaters, I highly suggest that this be the film that you return to the movie theater to see! Its epic action and tone all twist together for an experience that will best be suited for the big screen.
Also: STAY FOR THE END CREDIT SCENE!
Overall, I would rank Black Widow in my top five favorite MCU movies along with Avengers Infinity War, Endgame, Captain America The Winter Soldier, and Thor Ragnarok. The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s big-screen releases were on hiatus for quite a while, but let me tell you: they are back and better than ever! Black Widow will be released in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access on July 9, 2021!
Thank you to Disney for the opportunity to screen this movie early at the world-famous El Capitan Theater in Hollywood. It was really cool to be able to see the costumes from the movie!
