Assassin-turned-Avenger Natasha Romanoff’s first solo outing, Black Widow, has officially been certified fresh by review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. Marvel Studios’ latest offering kicks off the film side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 4 and sees Natasha on the run after the events of Captain America: Civil War. Forced to return to her native Russia, Natasha will join forces with her adoptive sister Yelena Belova, played by Florence Pugh, as she delves into the history of the Red Room that created her and attempts to foil a deadly conspiracy tied to it. 

Originally slated for release in May of 2020, the film’s release was pushed back in March of that year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Due to the excitement around Black Widow, Marvel Studios’ parent company Disney understandably wanted to avoid releasing the film via Disney+. Black Widow was then pushed back to November 2020, where it was given the release date of fellow Marvel film Eternals. However, plans changed, and Black Widow was pushed back once again to May 2021. Over a year later, Marvel audiences are understandably clamoring for the opportunity to see the highly anticipated movie in theaters, although those wishing to do so can also stream the film via Premier Access on Disney+. 

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Response from critics has been mostly positive and, at the time of writing, Black Widow currently sits on an 83% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 149 reviews. While many feel that Black Widow doesn’t stray too far from the pre-established Marvel formula, critics have commended director Cate Shortland’s blending of the superhero and spy thriller genres to create something that feels tonally different. They also praised the self-contained nature of the narrative that doesn’t feel as though it is desperately trying to tie into or set up numerous other films. 

Yelena and Natasha put their heads together in Black Widow

Much of the positivity around the film centers on the dynamic between cast members, in particular Natasha and her surrogate family, chiefly the performances of series newcomers Pugh and David Harbour, who plays Natasha and Yelena’s paternal figure Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian. At the same time, some critics felt that the strength of these Black Widow performances distracted from Johansson as the main focus of the film. That said, the movie appears to remain a solid outing and refreshing return to form after a noticeable absence of new Marvel films over the last two years.

Having sacrificed herself to undo the actions of the mad titan Thanos during the events of Avengers: Endgame, it’s generally understood that Black Widow will be Johansson’s final turn as Natasha. While Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has said he would like to work with Johansson again in the future, it would be fitting for the actress to exit the franchise on a high note. If that is the case, then it seems that Black Widow will be the swan song to see her off after being such a key player in the franchise for over 11 years. Audiences will have to wait a few more days to decide for themselves how they feel about Natasha’s latest venture when the film releases on July 9.

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Source: Rotten Tomatoes

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