Black Widow Review: 5 Ups & 5 Downs

4. The Strong Opening Sequence

Somewhat regrettably, Black Widow peaks right at the beginning, with a lengthy opening sequence detailing Natasha's youthful upbringing in 1995 Ohio, lending crucial shade to a character who has spent so long in the shadows even while working as a mainline member of the Avengers.

The full context of this sequence isn't known until later in the film, but it feels like a practically radical way to open an MCU movie, with scarcely a scrap of CGI in sight and a focus instead on a family living their lives in the gorgeous sun-kissed American Midwest.

This is followed by a snazzy opening titles sequence set to a dreary cover of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" - an on-the-nose but effective mood-setter as we learn how Natasha and Yelena were whisked away to the mysterious Red Room.

Considering the obvious impetus to open the film with a kickass Scarlett Johansson action scene, this was an uncommonly quiet, character-driven way to get things going.