Black Widow

 The Marvel Cinematic Universe skipped a year.

I bet you knew that. But now it's back with four theatrical films and at least three Disney Plus shows. Its first theatrical release is Black Widow, which gives Scarlett Johansson's spy heroine her own solo adventure. It's also the first American film for Australian director Cate Shortland. Let's see how it is.

In 1995, Natasha and her sister, Yelena, lived a good life in Ohio with their "dad" Alexei (David Harbour) and "mom" Melina (Rachel Weisz). Alexei and Melina were Russian spies stealing secrets. They flee to Cuba when SHIELD comes after them. Alexei gives the girls over to General Dreykov (Ray Winstone) of the Red Room. Dreykov trains them and other abandoned girls into his elite supersoldiers: Black Widows. Natasha blew him up years later.

In 2016, just after the Civil War, Black Widow Yelena (Florence Pugh) gets red-dusted by a target. The red dust de-brainwashes Black Widows. Yelena procures some red dust and decides to use it on her fellow Widows. But she needs Natasha's help. A very much alive Dreykov decides to stop them with his best warrior, The Taskmaster. Natasha and Yelena need their "parents'" help to find Dreykov. This family reunion is pretty awkward.

Let me guess what you'll guess what I'll say. You need to be familiar with the past films. Of course, but one pivotal plot point is first introduced off-handedly in The Avengers. I forgot about it until I re-watched it. That slight mention foreshadows The Taskmaster's true identity. The Taskmaster is a capable heavy able to mimic any fighting style. The symmetry is impressive and Lorne Balfe's score gives The Taskmaster a suitably creepy theme. But The Taskmaster turns tragic once the reveal happens. It still works even if you don't remember that bit from nine years ago...

It's a well-crafted spy thriller. Natasha's first "present day" scene has her easily elude capture from General Ross (William Hurt). When I mean "easily," I mean he's in L.A. and she's in Norway. It's a great use of editing by Leigh Folsom Boyd and Matthew Schmidt. We see Natasha and Yelena evade The Taskmaster in Budapest and later free Alexei from a Russian Prison. We get some great scenery shots from cinematographer Gabriel Beristain. The Production Design and Visual Effects collaborate the best with the Red Room, a flying fortress, and its eventual destruction. 

What about the characters? Natasha and Yelena are compelling leads as they deal with the "red on their ledger." Neither are happy with Alexei or Melina for very understandable reasons. Alexei is a former superhero, the Red Guardian, and a braggart, but he pulls through in the end. Melina programs pigs to stop breathing, but she's not callous to let them suffocate. That's good foreshadowing of her seeming betrayal. Dreykov is an efficient creep who brags about recycling the abandoned. A sympathetic goal until you remember what he recycles them into. 

This packed Marvel year is off to a good start in theaters. Black Widow is also ready to watch on Disney Plus for $30. Its super spy action makes the most of 133 minutes. See it on the biggest and safest screen you can get. Its prerequisite end credit scene is apparently foreshadowing for the next Disney Plus Marvel show, Hawkeye, scheduled to air this year.