Black Widow, The Power of Family

Okay, I know, on this one I’m a little behind the 8 ball. This is a movie I would like to have reviewed earlier but since it’s still doing quite well at the box office, I figure, better late than never. Black Widow is a Marvel movie I wanted to see when the trailers first started coming out pre Covid. I finally got to see it, but it unfortunately suffers from the curse of many a movie with great trailers. This new continuation of the Avenger story line for Marvel is enjoyable as it follows the character of the Black Widow and her family.  It has much of what has come to be expected for a Marvel movie and in many ways it delivers.

 

Directed by Cate Shortland we see Scarlett Johansson back as Natasha Romanoff, AKA the Black Widow. This time we also have the pleasure of having her family tagging alongside as we see a kind of origins story for the character that transfers over to Marvel’s current storyline. It is here the story becomes somewhat convoluted and hard to follow. It isn’t that the movie is short on action, I unfortunately heard how some thought the movie struggled and was boring, if it is boring it is in the attempt to figure out the storyline in the movie. Truth is, there is enough action and comedic moments to keep one going and entertained, it is in trying to figure out what is going on that becomes difficult. The action sequences in the film in my opinion are terrific, well edited, and well shot. Unfortunately, I appreciate story and The Black Widow just falls short and becomes too complicated in trying to figure everything out, including the characters and who they are and what drives them.

 

There are several worth while aspects of the movie. The characters and heroes in the movie are female driven. I appreciate movies like this that attempt to present women in strong roles. The success of Wonder Woman was an example of how this can be done. Of course, there is a well-played father figure, Alexi, played by David Harbour.  He provides comedic relief and while I had high hopes of his role from the trailers, he just isn’t in the movie enough and we could have had more of him as he was one of the most enjoyable characters on screen. There were times that it seems as if even Scarlett Johansson gets lost on screen with her character.

 

One of the great questions of the film, is what is it that constitutes family. While the Romanoff family is trying to save the world, there are clearly aspects of dysfunction in their family. Without giving anything away, one of the things that eventually comes into play, and in some ways is a theme of the movie is that true, real family is often far more than a blood association, but sometimes more of a spiritual concept. I am reminded of the power of adoption as an example. I have an adopted son who is as much a part of my family as my biological daughter. I don’t see or recognize a difference. It is a reminder of the concept the Bible speaks about in being adopted into the family of God. In Black Widow we see a form of this taking place. We see that despite rough times, disagreements, differences in personality, that family, in the end can conquer all when seen as family. It is in family that everyone can use their specific strengths in overcoming the difficulties and surroundings around us. In that regard, Black Widow delivers, more so than I thought it would, despite the lack of story.

 

This is not a great movie, but it is entertaining and enjoyable. It has good themes and like I said, it is still drawing crowds. I saw it on a Tuesday night, and it was still a sellout. It’s worth seeing but don’t expect the strength of some of the other Marvel films, don’t be disappointed that it doesn’t seem to fit up to the trailer for the movie. I will give another hint though, make sure you stay until the end of the credits for the closing hepiloguej that gives details as to an upcoming and future Marvel storyline.

 

On a sale of 1 – 10, it is still definitely better than average and will provide for a fun time at the movies. So I give it an entertaining 7

To see the trailer for the movie, click on the following link:

Marvel Studios’ Black Widow | New Trailer - YouTube 

For going on some thirty years now I have done the work of The Virtual Pew, in part planting seeds but another huge part is getting to know people and being called by many Pastor Mike by my involvement in social media. From engaging in life, I have seen the impact of my work on people on the fringes all over the world. I have run homeless programs, housed homeless people worked with drug addicts, prostitutes and much more. All while giving back my salary, and for the last 8+ years not taking a salary. You can help tremendously by supporting the work, not just from the movie reviews but the work that goes along side that in the development of relationships of helping save lives and give purpose to the lives of others. I appreciate your consideration in this calling that I have seen and know God uses. 

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Instant Family, The Power of Adoption

There is a new movie that has been in theaters for several weeks called Instant Family Staring Mark Wahlberg. My wife and I just saw it today, and in a word, the movie is fabulous.

As a disclaimer from the very start, my wife and I adopted our son Nathaniel in 1989. He came home with us on December 26 of 1989 and a few short months later, the court decreed him as our son, and we as his parents. We know all too well the issues that come with adoption, issues related to long term acceptance for the child and issues as the child deals with those issues and others for the parents. These issues don't last just for a short while, but seemingly for the life and duration of the life of the child and the life of the adoptive parents.

Now in the adoption process, let me make something clear. The child who has been adopted becomes as much a part of the family as a child who was born into the family, we know this to be true because we have a daughter born in 1981. While our love for our two children is different, they are both our children, just as much as if both had been born naturally within our family. We love one just as much as the other and always will. Not to make excuses for actions of any child, but unfortunately, just as seen in the movie, there are those in families who sometimes due to a lack of understanding of the concepts related to adoption.

If you haven't picked up on it, that is the themes of this movie starring Mark Wahlberg as Pete and Rose Byrne as his wife Ellie.  They portray a real couple who was involved in a home improvements type of vocation where they take older houses, flip them and sell them for profit. They realize they are ready for a family and through the Foster Family process (a whole other set of issues which arise through this process) look at the possibility of adoption. Their experiences are displayed on screen as the couple decides to take into foster care 3 siblings with a Hispanic background. As the family begins to bond, they realize their desire to adopt the children.  

Among the supporting cast are the children, Isabela Moner who plays a difficult 15 year old Lizzy, and her two small siblings Gustavo Quiroz and Julianna Gamiz who play brother and sister Lizzy and Juan. There are issues with each child and difficulties for the adoptive couple relating to all three children, especially the older sister Lizzy. The agency team of Octavia Spencer as Karen and Tig Notaro as Sharon provides some comic relief and a representation that even within agencies there is not always agreement. That is important for this film as it never forgets to present the important thing in the adoption process is the children.

There are some who come from strict religious backgrounds who may have issues with this movie. Instant Family follows a group of foster parents in training as they are all looking at adoption, including single parents, a religious family and a gay couple among others. I felt the movie presented a loving and thoughtful presentation about what all prospective parents go through, including adoptive parents from varying backgrounds. Again, the emphasis is on the children and the film is quite educational in the process of adoption as well as the things that families deal with after the process, especially those that go through the foster care system.

The truth is this movie has its moments where you may need a few tissues. It is emotional, but in a good way. I challenge especially adults who are contemplating adoption to see the movie, in fact I would encourage anyone who knows a family who has adoptive children to see the movie. From an adoptive parent, I will tell you it is quite accurate and in many situations, it is even more difficult than the things we see on screen. There are however, in this life, heroes who have gone out of their way to show a child in need of adoption that they can in fact be loved and brought into a family. It may take time for understanding to take place but with time, and love, it can take place.

One of the things I was reminded of is how God puts families together and I couldn't help but reflect on the passages in the Bible that talk about how God has adopted those who follow Christ into the family of God. I loved the Wahlberg character because although he has issues at time, his love for the children is never really flinching and there are times that we see his willingness to stand up for and be protective of the children, even in ways that may bring about harm to others. I can't help but think that in some ways, God is like that with those He calls his children. In those situations, we can all experience the feelings of love that comes from a Heavenly Father. I know that for me, in my life, I have experienced those things and am grateful for them. I only hope that for the duration of my life I can display this type of love to my children, including my son, who is as much a part of me as my daughter. It's kind of hard to explain, but thankfully there are movies like this that can, and do show, the ability to love even those where there may be issues and difficulty.That ability to love others, despite differences, seems to me, to be a theme that we can all learn from with the events and attitudes in today's world.

On a scale of 1 - 10, for the two loving parents and the numbers in the word instant, where they became two that had an instant family, I give a well deserving, enjoyable 9.  

To see the trailer for the film, click on the following link or video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUfZq3DUd3Y

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