Black Widow has everything the big screen is craving – an enthralling storyline and a real human quality

Black Widow

(12A), 134mins

★★★★★

IT’S not easy to take a character with no future and give them a past that makes them even more interesting.

This is exactly what has been done to Avenger Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) who has appeared in eight Marvel Cinematic Universe Films before this offering from director Cate Shortland.

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And her own standalone adventure — in this Avengers prequel — has an enthralling storyline and a real human quality.

Black Widow has everything the big screen is craving right now: Ass-kicking assassins with one- liners, good looks and charm equal to — and even sometimes surpassing — the likes of Bond or Bourne.

The story starts in Natasha’s childhood, where she watches fireflies in her garden. The tranquillity soon turns to chaos, with her “family” having to escape.

We are then hurtled into the present day, when she tries to pick up her relationships with “sister” Yelena (Florence Pugh), “mother” Melina (Rachel Weisz) and “father” Alexei (David Harbour).

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Collecting this trio of misfits while trying to put together the pieces of her own broken life is great fun — Natasha wants to destroy Russian supervillain Dreykov, played by Ray ­Winstone, who changes his East End accent to Eastern Bloc.

The “family” dynamic is superbly written, with enough distrust, backstabbing and disinterest in each other for the dialogue to be ­believable.

But the scene-stealer is Brit star Pugh, whose swearing, antagonistic younger “sister” is both hilarious and heartbreakingly vulnerable. She clearly envies her big sis, but compares Natasha’s signature crouch-then-hair-flick fight stance to a model in a shampoo advert.

The plot holds many quick fixes and superficial formulas — like test tubes full of shimmering powder that will save an army-load of brainwashed female assassins.

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Some may roll their eyes, but as comic-book stories go, it has enough depth and grit to make every magic potion and remarkable death dodge acceptable.

With stunning stunts, ferocious fights and plenty of soul, this first offering in Phase Four of the MCU is definitely worth the wait.

• In cinemas July 7, order on Disney+ with Premier Access from July 9.

Another Round

(12A), 117mins

★★★★☆

Could you do your job better if you were drunk? While many of us may find the idea tempting, this film about four ­middle-aged secondary school teachers puts it to the test.

We meet the group as they are sleepwalking through life, weighed down by the chaos of children, marriage breakdowns and a career they have zero ­passion for.

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During a meal they discuss a psychiatrist’s theory that all humans are born with a shortage of ethanol in their bodies.

To put this to the test, they conduct an experiment to maintain a steady blood alcohol content of 0.5% throughout the working day.

And, unsurprisingly, the booze makes their bland lives – and this Oscar- winning Danish film – suddenly very entertaining indeed.

Mads Mikkelsen plays ­history teacher Martin with the perfect level of life weariness, while maintaining a sparkle in his eye.

Frustratingly, the female parts – a couple of far-too-beautiful, nagging wives – are two-dimensional and lazy, while the male roles are layered and intriguing. But that’s not to say this heartfelt, funny and reflective film is just for men.

It’s an intoxicating ride, with an ending so joyful it will leave you feeling very merry indeed.

Freaky

(15), 101mins

★★★☆☆

THIS twisted take on the body-swap comedy centres on serial killer The Butcher (Vince Vaughn) and high school geek Millie (Kathryn Newton).

The Butcher has a lust for murdering teenagers in the sleepy town of Blissfield and has a stab at killing Millie. Quite literally.

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But the dagger he chooses to do this with is cursed and the pair swap bodies on Friday 13th making for an amusing extension on the usual theme.

While Vaughn now has to act as a nerd who has a crush on a boy, ­ Newton plays a bloodthirsty murderer who sees the disguise of being Millie as the perfect way to commit unlimited murders at the Homecoming Dance.

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The two leads play the two characters well, with Vaughn having some laugh-out-loud moments as a huge man saying “hashtag” before several statements. Don’t be fooled by the black comedy label on this film though, some scenes are breathtakingly violent.

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Director Christopher Landon takes a step up from his 2017 Happy Death Day, by never holding back from the gore of a slasher movie.

While Freaky is a mixture of Friday 13th, Mean Girls and Scream, this clumsy and often confused brutal comedy has too much blood and not enough bite.