Scarlett Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson teamed up in the MCU as part of The Avengers, but the duo actually co-starred in a disastrous comic book movie several years earlier. After getting her start as a child actor in the ’90s, Scarlett Johansson quickly transitioned into more mature roles, where she’s continued to be one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
Samuel L. Jackson, on the other hand, had a much less meteoric rise, and slowly climbed his way up from bit parts to starring roles over several decades. Stealing the show in films like Pulp Fiction, Jackson’s brash onscreen persona has served him well. Jackson and Johansson both joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing Nick Fury and Black Widow, respectively.
Co-starring in some of the biggest blockbusters of the 2010s together in the MCU, Jackson and Johansson were often highlights of their respective action spectaculars. While the Marvel films might have helped resurrect the struggling comic book movie craze, the two actors had already co-starred in a comic movie years earlier.
Scarlett Johansson & Samuel L. Jackson Co-Starred In The Spirit
A Classic Comic Character Got A Not-So-Classic Movie
Released the same year as the MCU-launching film, Iron Man, The Spirit was the last gasp of the original superhero craze of the 2000s. Helmed by legendary comic book creator Frank Miller, the unorthodox superhero film drew inspiration from film noir, and was particularly inspired by Miller’s Sin City, which had premiered a few years earlier.
Both stars perfectly understood the campy tone the movie was going for, and acted accordingly.
Samuel L. Jackson was perfectly cast as the dastardly villain, The Octopus, whose plan of citywide domination must be stopped by the тιтle hero. Starring alongside him as Octopus’ secretary and sadistic accomplice, Johansson was also well-cast as Silken Floss. Both stars perfectly understood the campy tone the movie was going for, and acted accordingly.
These parts are an obvious departure from their much larger MCU roles, and the tone of The Spirit is completely different from the somewhat self-serious approach used in most Marvel movies. Unfortunately, Jackson and Johansson are given a lot of work to do, and they are the two actors who do most of the heavy lifting for the lackluster superhero movie.
What Went Wrong With The Spirit?
A Bad Script Drags Down A Somewhat Boring Movie
Frank Miller struck gold when co-directing Sin City, and the movie’s illustrative style was like the gritty comic book brought to life. Sadly, that style didn’t translate to The Spirit, and its tone was divorced from its visuals. The Spirit was supposed to be a campy and fun ride, but the visuals suggest it’s a dour crime thriller.
Miller also co-directed Sin City: A Dame to Kill For in 2014, but it was not as well-received.
The script itself was poor, with many unnecessary monologues that slow the pacing down. Ultimately, The Spirit is too different from its source material to do it justice. Frank Miller is known for his dark reimaginings of classic comic characters, but it didn’t work. Scarlett Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson do their best, but they couldn’t save The Spirit.
