Movies in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) are known for their layers as each build on the next to form a total, overarching story. Not every plot point ties into the conclusion, but there are always moments from each that will play a part in something bigger. The talking tree will eventually use its arm to make the handle of the weapon that kills Thanos. That weird little glowing box in the end credit scene of Thor is an Infinity Stone that will help cause the universe’s undoing and salvation, and the list goes on. Black Widow has none of these, and while it can stand alone on its own merits as a one-off, it feels disjointed and more like an afterthought than a vital piece of the puzzle.
To avoid spoilers, this synopsis is going to be purposely brief and vague. Taking place in between the events of Civil War and Infinity War, Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) finds herself on the run from the world’s powers after breaking the terms of the Sokovia Accords. Upon reconnecting with her sister and fellow Red Room trained Black Widow, Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), she is drawn back into a world she had left behind long ago. Her ledger, already dripping with red, threatens to overflow as she fights to fully erase her past and embrace a new and hopefully better future.
Black Widow is essentially a generic spy/action film with a few redacted plot twists thrown in for good measure. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s not what we’ve come to expect from these movies. In fact, had this not been attached to Marvel Studios, it probably would have stood up much better than it did. The action sequences are top notch and allow the characters’ fighting styles to come to full fruition where each battle is almost a ballet of death, and the few quiet moments of character development are evenly spaced to give the audience a moment of respite before rushing to the next frenetic set piece. In a world where the average foe wields forces beyond those of mere mortals, it asks, and answers the question of how someone without superpowers can still be a superhero.
But that just isn’t enough. While not technically an origin story, Black Widow still falls prey to their tropes. We know she sacrifices herself to save the universe, and the film has no impact on that climax. It has no stakes, and while it’s interesting learning how wide of a net the Red Room had really cast, Infinity War and Endgame stand unchanged. They were tight enough films that there were no loose plot threads for Widow to grab on and run with, and it exists in a vacuum that feels like it will have little influence in the events of Phase 4 and beyond.
Had this been released after Iron Man 2 or Winter Solider, there would have been more ways for it to mesh with the greater world which would have created some sense of urgency or danger. However, this is impossible due to its place in the timeline and knowledge of future events. It is a fun little spy movie on its own, but it just has too much going against it to feel like it truly belongs. As much as Cap felt completely out of place after coming out of the ice, so too does this in the grander schemes of the MCU.