Black Widow
Between Avengers: Endgame and Black Widow's solo movie, Scarlett Johansson is clocking in overtime in the MCU. But the role of Black Widow almost went to someone else ...,According to writer Eric Pearson, Florence Pugh teased Scarlett Johansson about Black Widow's iconic pose during filming, so Pearson put it in the film.,The bulk of the movie takes place immediately after Captain America: Civil War (2016), which takes place after Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015). Tony Stark, who is established to be incredibly paranoid about alien invasion, has satellites in space, and invents futuristic technology, doesn't detect the Red Room, a flying base the size of several skyscrapers taped together. Neither does S.H.I.E.L.D., or any government that regularly looks for alien or even terrestrial unknown craft in the sky.,Yelena Belova: [about Natasha] Such a poser.,There is a scene after the the closing credits: Yelena Belova visits Natasha's grave, and is approached by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Valentina gives Yelena a mission to target the man she tells her is responsible for her sister's death: Clint Barton. This sets up Hawkeye (2021).,Edited into Marvel Studios: Legends: Hawkeye (2021),American Pie
Written and Performed by Don McLean
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises,I was expecting a typical, CGI-infused Avenger movie, and it certainly is that. Black Widow, though, has a lot in common with James Bond movies. There's even a scene in which 007 is playing on TV. The Black Widow must stop a Russian General called Dreykov, a sort of SPECTRE czar megalomaniac who "rescues" unwanted girls and turns them into super assassins, called widows. Widows go through extensive training. A select few get chosen. The rest are killed. This makes Dreykov a monstrous misogynist, in a movie, directed by a woman, Cate Shortland, which has unmistakable feminist themes. There are two main Black Widows: Scarlett Johansson's character, and Yelena Belova, played by Florence Pugh. Belova is impulsive where Romanoff is introspective. The two are sisters only in that they grew up as part of a Russian cell, in an Ohio suburb, along with Rachel Weisz as their brilliant scientist mother, and David Harbour, as Red Guardian, Russia's version of Captain America, as the dad.

The action set pieces, and fight scenes were good, but no better or worse than your typical Marvel Avenger movie. There are the standard wisecracks, as Johansson and Pugh riff on each other. Yelena teases Natasha's signature landing move, with one arm extended behind, the other hand on the floor, and legs spread apart, a fighting stance Yelena finds diva-like and pretentious, and is disgusted with herself when performing the same pose. The chemistry between Scarlett Johansson and Florence Pugh is nimble and enjoyable. The scenes with David Harbour, arm wrestling people in a gulag prison, are also very funny. In summary, this is a solid, fun Marvel movie, with a hint we will be seeing more of Black Widow Yelena Belova.,See which films from the Marvel Cinematic Universe had the largest domestic box office openings.,