‘Hawkeye’ is a rather lightweight affair
On the one hand, it feels unfair to pass any kind of judgment on “Hawkeye” after only two episodes.
They largely serve to set up the story that will be told in this fourth live-action Marvel Cinematic Series to launch on Disney+. There really isn’t enough here to know what “Hawkeye” is and isn’t, and least not truly.
On the other hand, the limited series has but six installments, so we are talking about a third of it.
Plus, Disney-owned Marvel Studios made only the first two chapters, which debut together on Nov. 24, available for review, so there’s that.
What we do see suggests a rather lightweight affair.
It isn’t boldly artistic in the way the first MCU series, “WandaVision,” is. It isn’t action-packed and political like “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.” It isn’t mind-bending and complicated like the most recent offering, “Loki.”
If nothing else, it’s easier than all of them.
The show centering on the titular former Avenger (Jeremy Renner) — known for his skills with a bow and arrow — and introducing to the MCU the similarly gifted Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) is set in a snowy New York City a few days before Christmas. It’s a show, yes, but it sort of feels like Marvel’s idea of a holiday movie, if that makes any kind of sense. (We know — it probably doesn’t.)
We first are introduced to a young version of Kate in 2012, who loses her father (Brian d’Arcy James of “Spotlight”) during the Battle of New York.
In the post-Blip present day, Kate is a medal-swinning collegiate archer and a bit of a rebel, which causes her wealthy mother (Vera Farmiga, “The Many Saints of New York”) to worry.
And worry Mom probably should.
After all, Kate is the curious, snooping type. For instance, at a prestigious social affair to which her mother has invited her, she pokes around and finds herself at a blackmarket auction happening away from the rest of the party. Among the bidders is her stepfather-to-be, Jack (Tony Dalton, “Better Call Saul”), of whom she already is quite suspicious. He has his eyes on some items that belonged to Hawkeye when he was engaging in violent anti-mob activities disguised as the masked vigilante Ronin.
Kate’s subsequent donning of the Ronin suit and venturing out into the streets draws some attention, including that of Cliff, who’s just trying to enjoy a little quality time with his kids. When we first see the family, they’re attending “Rogers the Musical,” a Broadway show packed with Avengers, Hawkeye included, that Cliff watches in disbelief.
Soon, he must send the kids back home to their mother, Laura (Linda Cardellini, “Dead to Me”), so he can investigate.
It’s clear early on that the backbone of “Hawkeye” will be the dynamic between the detached, mildly grumpy Cliff and enthusiastic fangirl Kate, who’s thrilled to be spending time with her hero once he tracks her down. His aim is to make sure she’s safe and get back to his life as soon as possible, but she’s in no hurry to see their days as a crime-fighting duo end.
“I’ll call you later,” she says as they part for the night.
“Please don’t,” he responds.
Renner, who also stars in the new Paramount+ limited series “Mayor of Kingstown,” and Steinfeld (“Pitch Perfect 3,” “Dickinson”) do make an appealing pair with decent chemistry. She is the more enjoyable performer of the two here, but that’s at least in part because his Hawkeye simply is not a dynamic character.
Disney has asked reviewers to keep it light with spoilers, but there really isn’t that much to spoil anyway. There is a little nugget dropped at
the end of the second hour, however.
At some point soon, we expect to see Yelena Belova — sister of the late Natasha Romanoff, who was close friends with Cliff — whose interest in Hawkeye is teased at the end of this year’s “Black Widow.” (Also, she’s included in the cast on the show’s IMDb page.)
These first two episodes, as well as the finale, are directed by Rhys Thomas (“Saturday Night Live”). Perhaps his comedy background helps to explain why there’s nothing all that exciting in terms of action here. Yes, there are laughs to be had, but they’re mainly minor chuckles.
Call us intrigued by but not smitten with this first third of “Hawkeye.” If the worst case is it proves to be little more than a light holiday treat, it’s hard to be too much of a Grinch about that.
‘Hawkeye’
What: Six-episode limited series set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Where: Disney+. When: First two episodes debut on Nov. 24 with new episodes arriving on Wednesdays through Dec. 22.