Is Florence Pugh Overshadowing ScarJo In Black Widow? Some Critics Think So
Black Widow has received much love both from fans as well as from critics. Critics from The Guardian, The Variety, The Verge, and others have praised the newest Scarlett Johansson film in their reviews. However, not every critic feels the same way. Some strongly believe that the story could have made Natasha Romanoff shine brighter. This raises the question: Is Florence Pugh overshadowing ScarJo in the movie?
Black Widow has been a highly anticipated movie for a long time despite its long delay owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Marvel standalone film starring Scarlett Johansson and Florence Pugh was released on July 9 on theatres and OTT platforms.
Florence Pugh Overshadowing ScarJo’s Character
Florence Pugh takes up the character of Yelena Belova in the new Black Widow film while Johansson is seen again as Natasha Romanoff. The two are shown on screen as sister figures and they work together for the same cause.
Critic Maya Phillips from The New York Times wrote in her review that she would be “hella miffed” if she were Natasha Romanoff. “If I were Natasha Romanoff, a.k.a. the Black Widow, a.k.a. the first original female Avenger and yet years overdue for her own film, I’d be hella miffed,” she stated.
Must Read: Black Widow Reviews From Critics: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
According to the critic, after many years in MCU with flip and kicks and spy work, Natasha Romanoff still gets disregarded to some extent. Phillips said that Johansson’s character was hugely overshadowed by other characters, mainly Yelena Belova.
While Black Widow is supposed to be a movie focused purely on Romanoff’s narrative, her past, and spy life, her voice is blurred out by some of the characters who are looming large and playing many important roles. The star of the film, therefore, gets showcased just like a normal character who isn’t playing the most titular role.
In the review, Phillips also mentioned that the script grants Yelena more personality than Natasha. “The script, by Eric Pearson, grants Yelena more personality, emotional depth and intrigue. It not only mines the more immediate trauma she has faced but also, through her, critiques the wishful optimism that Natasha holds for the Avengers, whom she considers her real family,” she said.
What Are Others Saying About Black Widow?
Famous personalities like True Detective actor Stephen Dorff did not fancy the movie much. He went as far as to state that the film was “garbage”. Dorff also said that he was embarrassed for Scarlett Johansson to take part in a project like this.
“I don’t want to be in Black Widow. It looks like garbage to me. It looks like a bad video game. I’m embarrassed for those people,” the actor has previously said. He also criticized director Cate Shortland’s work and said that he wouldn’t work for her.
