BLACK WIDOW (2021): Early Buzz & Reactions from 22 Film Critics

Black Widow Early Buzz and Reactions from 22 Film Critics

Cate Shortland‘s Black Widow (2021) had its critic’s screening a few days ago and reviews from it have begun appearing online. The reviews are 99% positive. It’s one of the negative reviews, however, that doesn’t gush but rather selects moments and dissects them (as much as that can take place in a capped tweet) that is the most interesting. Some of the reviews say that Black Widow is the best Marvel solo film. I think it would be hard to top Black Panther or Iron Man but anything is possible.

Read the brief reviews below or wait and be the judge yourself when the movie drops in theater on July 9, 2021.

Black Widow Early Buzz and Reactions from 22 Film Critics

Marvel movies are back! #BlackWidow is a tense, action-packed spy thriller that truly completes Natasha’s story in a visceral & emotional way. Florence Pugh CRUSHES it & is an instant MCU icon. This is like the MCU's Bond movie w/ shades of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE & THELMA & LOUISE. pic.twitter.com/bauc2XVQlF

— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) June 17, 2021

A few other notes:
– Yes, there's a post-credits scene, so stick around.
– David Harbour is hilarious & a major scene stealer
– Takes place after CIVIL WAR, so lots of Avengers references.
– If this is Scarlett's final performance as Natasha, it's a great way to go out pic.twitter.com/pBmbJnGYox

— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) June 17, 2021

Black Widow is so disappointing. Scarlett Johansson tries, but the script, pacing, & poor character development sink the film. Starts off promising but by the second act becomes a disjointed & uneven mess. Generic, uninspired, & ultimately lacking the Marvel Magic. #BlackWidow pic.twitter.com/rGJu51aJxS

— Scott Menzel (@ScottDMenzel) June 17, 2021

What's worse is that Black Widow plays like a 135-minute teaser to an upcoming Marvel Disney+ series rather than an actual movie. The whole thing feels oddly pointless with a shoe-string plot that is more concerned with setting up Pugh's Yelena than telling Natasha's backstory.

— Scott Menzel (@ScottDMenzel) June 17, 2021

The entire family subplot doesn't work because there is little to no chemistry between the characters. I get what the writers were going for but the emotional hook isn’t there. Instead it feels forced. David Harbour & Rachel Weisz feel very out of place & are arguably miscast.

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— Scott Menzel (@ScottDMenzel) June 17, 2021

As someone who enjoys action mixed with laughs, I found the humor in Black Widow to be so off putting. The jokes, as a whole, felt lazy, dated, and out of place. Some were actually cringeworthy. Don't get me started on the goofy Russian accents and the film's lackluster villain.

— Scott Menzel (@ScottDMenzel) June 17, 2021

With so many waiting years for a Black Widow movie, I couldn't help but feel cheated by this film. It fails to deliver the goods and is a slap in the face to the fans who thought they would finally get a badass Black Widow movie. Johansson and Black Widow both deserved better.

— Scott Menzel (@ScottDMenzel) June 17, 2021

My last comment on #BlackWidow. People always complained about how Black Widow got sidelined in the MCU, and in her own movie, she gets sidelined to set up another character for an upcoming tv show. This is my number one complaint about the film. #BlackWidow

— Scott Menzel (@ScottDMenzel) June 17, 2021

#BlackWidow is one of Marvel's best solo films.

Start to finish, the movie is great. Excellent surprises, emotional character moments, bad-ass action, and Scarlett Johansson finally gets to pour everything into the role.

Director Cate Shortland nailed it. Bravo. pic.twitter.com/sgEkUW63cT

— BD (@BrandonDavisBD) June 17, 2021

#BlackWidow was better than I thought it would be!

Although there’s some excellent action, what pulled me in was the really powerful themes & character moments the film presented.

Easily Scarlett’s best performance as Nat, and Florence Pugh is brilliant as Yelena. pic.twitter.com/CDjKJm4nVq

— Jacob (@JacobFisherDF) June 17, 2021

#BlackWidow pays a beautiful and long overdue tribute to Natasha Romanoff. It’s also the spy thriller fans of the character have been asking for all these years. It’s funny, thrilling and very emotional. Florence Pugh is fantastic as Yelena Belova, who is definitely here to stay. pic.twitter.com/i0jimxIJG0

— Lando (@orlandoenelcine) June 17, 2021

Marvel fans rejoice: #BlackWidow is outstanding and an arguably S-tier entry in the MCU. Like Civil War, an aggressively bleak tone and dark story is balanced by legit LOL family comedy. Action is brutal; this is the first MCU film I've seen where stunts look like it hurts. pic.twitter.com/gkPLHGoPVb

— Eric Francisco (@EricFrancisco24) June 17, 2021

Also the action is non-stop in #BlackWidow and so well done. And if you like it, you can thank 2nd unit director Darrin Prescott. You know his work from the ‘John Wick’ movies, ‘Black Panther,’ and ‘Captain America: Civil War.’ Don’t watch on Disney+. See this in a movie theater. pic.twitter.com/SiCuL66llR

— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) June 17, 2021

The more I think about how much I loved #BlackWidow, the angrier I am that we didn't get this movie years ago. It underscores how little explored Nat's character has been in the MCU, and how she–and we–deserved so much more than what she got. Endless depths we'll now never see.

— Alisha Grauso (@AlishaGrauso) June 17, 2021

#BlackWidow was exactly what I'd hoped for: a story about family and sisters that deepened Natasha's character development and provided some really fun fight sequences. Florence Pugh as Yelena is the star, bringing lots of charm, humor, and emotion. pic.twitter.com/RW7YoX3De8

— Nicole Ackman (@nicoleackman16) June 17, 2021

Shocked by how much I enjoyed #BlackWidow Nowhere near as weak as you might think. It's still definitely rough around the edges, but the cast really sold me on this one (Pugh & Harbour MVPs). The use of Taskmaster is also another solid surprise. pic.twitter.com/4VnHcbHBxO

— Andrew J. Salazar @ Sundance (@AndrewJ626) June 17, 2021

I watched #BlackWidow yesterday and it's as refreshingly different to other Marvel Studios releases as it is to just have these big movies back. The leads are awesome and the story does some unexpected things. It's the most adult MCU release yet, but still offers a few laughs. pic.twitter.com/ib9F0rX09t

— Rob Keyes (@rob_keyes) June 17, 2021

I saw #BlackWidow last night. Two of my favourites, Scarlett Johansson & @Florence_Pugh AND female director Cate Shortland ????The start was like a psychological thriller. Amazing kick ass action sequences & chemistry between these two. Definitely one to watch on the big screen pic.twitter.com/p1Cq9xA916

— Laura Richards BSc, MSc, MBPsS (@laurarichards99) June 17, 2021

#MarvelStudios went for big Winter Soldier action beats in #BlackWidow and put together a couple of really intense scenes. They also went for some big Mission Impossible/Bond scenes that I really enjoyed. ScarJo & Pugh have great chemistry & are ? together. 3rd act feels choppy

— Charles Murphy (@_CharlesMurphy) June 17, 2021

Although #BlackWidow feels very much like MCU films of the past with its Marvel-patented tone and lackluster villain, it’s bolstered by well-directed action and great leading performances from Johansson and Pugh, whose chemistry is the highlight. Review coming to @DiscussingFilm pic.twitter.com/yWAp8W7e4d

— jeremiah (@thespeedforces) June 17, 2021

Loved #BlackWidow for very unexpected reasons. Yes, it's wall-to-wall action (and Cate Shortland approaches Russo levels of physicality and intensity). But the movie's heart, and display of a broken family, hit me hard. Very much appreciated this deeper dive into Natasha. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/j6m1gvv3B0

— Sean O'Connell (@Sean_OConnell) June 17, 2021

#BlackWidow has one of the best casts in a Marvel film. Scarlett, David, Rachel and Florence all have scene stealing moments that keep the movie moving briskly. It probably has the most action of any solo Marvel film and I felt like I was on a roller coaster the entire time.

— James Viscardi (@JimViscardi) June 17, 2021

I saw #BlackWidow last night & I'm happy to say that it's incredibly fun & deeply emotional. Action feels WINTER SOLDIER level. Pugh, Johansson, Weisz & Harbour are outstanding together. Balances a tone that is dark, grounded, raw & real. Even after ENDGAME, you feel the stakes. pic.twitter.com/BKuvCPROrU

— Kevin McCarthy (@KevinMcCarthyTV) June 17, 2021

LetsOTT EXCLUSIVE: #BlackWidow: A stylish & exciting fest that balances its emotions, scale & action setpieces so well. Scarlett Johansson & Florence Pugh deliver the goods completely and it's brilliant to see it all come together this nicely. All the fun that you want, and more. pic.twitter.com/CRJXgu6oTu

— LetsCinema (@letscinema) June 17, 2021

Dug #BlackWidow a good deal! Was kinda worried about watching this story unfold knowing what’s to come in Endgame, that it might diminish the stakes, but that wasn’t the case. In fact, this is the kind of prequel story that feels bound to enhance other installments of the MCU. pic.twitter.com/sFcwHzW30Y

— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) June 17, 2021

I also saw #BlackWidow last night and it was my favorite Marvel stand-alone in a LOONG time. A beautiful love letter to Natasha and a cracking intro to Yelena. I’m so excited to have Florence Pugh in this universe.

— Joanna Robinson (@jowrotethis) June 17, 2021

#BlackWidow is a non-stop rollercoaster ride from beginning to end!

Some of the best action we’ve ever seen in the MCU. The cast is fantastic and has great chemistry. This film gives us closure to Nats story but also sets up the future that’ll get you sooo hyped! pic.twitter.com/CV4LmeHo4P

— Matt Ramos (@therealsupes) June 17, 2021

Honestly blown away by #BlackWidow. It’s low-key one of Marvel’s finest – an emotional story with great performance and a high-stakes chase through a “Russian JCPenney” that might be one of the zaniest and most badass action scenes in MCU history. Fans are gonna love it

— ben mekler (@benmekler) June 17, 2021

Cast

Cate Shortland‘s Black Widow stars Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Rachel Weisz, O.T. Fagbenle, Ray Winstone, Olivier Richters, William Hurt, Michelle Lee, Olivier Richters, Ahmed Bakare, Yolanda Lynes, Jade Ma, Nanna Blondell, and Shaina West.

Plot Synopsis

Black Widow‘s plot synopsis: “She’s lived a lot of lives, but she’s done running from her past…”

Taking place sometime between the events of “Captain America: Civil War” and “Avengers: Infinity War,” the upcoming Marvel film finds Natasha going back home to Russia for a secret mission that has her reuniting with her estranged Russian spy family, which includes her younger “sister” Yelena Belova (played by Midsommar’s Florence Pugh), the R

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