Since her first appearance in Iron Man 2, Black Widow took Marvel fans by storm. For over ten years, Natasha has wowed audiences until her tragic death in Avengers: Endgame. After two delays, Black Widow is finally here giving Natasha one final farewell. Following the events of Captain America: Civil War, Natasha Romanoff finds herself on the run hiding out in a caravan. When Natasha’s past catches up to her she is forced to deal with an unknown force as well as a dysfunctional family unit.

If you are going to see this movie I recommend you head straight to your nearest movie theatre. The feeling of sitting in that seat and hearing the incredible Marvel Studios score before the movie plays in unmatched. Scarlett Johannsson once again shines as Natasha Romanoff for the final time. She is a Marvel veteran at this point and is ready to join Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr in the Marvel retirement home.

We get a great new addition into the MCU with Florence Pugh as Yelena. Pugh shows off her Academy Award nominated acting chops reminding us of why we all love her. Yelena is the perfect new addition to the MCU since The Scarlet Witch in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Director Cate Shortland describes the introduction of Yelena as Natasha “passing the baton”, in order to set up another female storyline. If we are to take the post credit scene as canon, Yelena may be returning possibly in the Hawkeye series set for release later this year.

Stranger Things star David Harbour is another great introduction to the MCU. He acts as the comedic relief for the movie. He will have the audience belly laughing with his singing and trying on his Red Guardian suit. Although his future in the MCU remains unclear it would be great to see him again. Someone who does not get enough screen time is Rachel Weisz as Melina. Her character is under developed and not the mother figure she was painted out to be in the trailer.

Although narratively the film is interesting and moves along at an acceptable pace, the special effects are some of the weakest in the MCU. The action sequences are intense but the effects take you right out of them. The CGI is not up to MCU standard on this $200 million movie. The budget must have gone to the set pieces, or costumes or the wigs on Scarlett Johannsson’s head. Cate Shortland is only the second woman to direct a Marvel movie since Anna Boden on Captain Marvel. This franchise is becoming more diverse and honestly it is about time. Chloe Zhao and Nia DaCosta will be joining the directors line up with The Eternals and The Marvels. Marvel needs to make more room for female directors as it seems to be working for them.

This film is bittersweet for Marvel fans. It is always hard to say goodbye to these characters we have stuck with for so long. However the legacy of Natasha Romanoff has not been tarnished, in fact this film is a love letter to her. Marvel fans and fans of Black Widow will love this film despite the special effects flaws. We recommend you head straight out to your nearest movie theatre and take it all in. Black Widow will encapsulate fans and it is very much worth the wait.

Rating: 4/5

Black Widow will be in theatres and on Disney+ Premier Access July 9th.