SPOILER WARNING (IN THE CREDITS)!
The most highly anticipated film of 2022 is finally here. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness sees the titular Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and newcomer America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) traveling through the dangers of the multiverse as they attempt to stop a new threat from stealing America’s powers. That new threat…Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen). She’s on a path of destruction as she desperately wants to rekindle her relationship with her children, Billy (Julian Hilliard) and Tommy (Jett Klyne). Death is sure to come; can the good doctor and his closest confidants save the multiverse from destruction?
Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) have been asking the question “what’s next?” since Avengers: Endgame released in 2019. Kevin Feige is now constantly trying to up the ante and bring bigger and better things into the fold–and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was promised to be the next major step in the ever-changing MCU. I’m going to be up front and honest–it does not live up to the hype.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has a number of exciting cameos, and for fans of Marvel, both inside and outside of the MCU, they will find things to love about this film. The inclusion of fan-favorite characters are sure to spark the interest of many, and what Feige, Director Sam Raimi, and Writer Michael Waldron do in terms of fan service is phenomenal. They pull in viewers from the past twenty-plus years of Marvel cinematic lure, and they give them hope that all the things they had hoped for over the past two decades will come to fruition.
Visually, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a spectacular film. The use of color (or absence of color) to help tell a story and develop characters is brilliant, and this seems to be a thing that Marvel is working toward doing more of. They capture these aesthetically brilliant aspects of the film with incredible vigor, and filmmakers around the world, regardless of their stance on superhero films, understand that Raimi is incredibly good at his job. The visuals make viewers emotional, and there’s no way around how truly astonishing this aspect of the film is. If nothing else works for you in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the visuals will, without a doubt, appeal to you.
Raimi is a different type of director than what the MCU has seen in the past. Much like Chloé Zhao and Destin Daniel Cretton, Raimi is known for creating films in a unique way. However, unlike anyone that has come before him in the MCU, Raimi has an affinity for making things scary. Films like Evil Dead and Drag Me to Hell are exemplary of what he brings to the table–and it’s clear throughout Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness that his style is very much a part of Doctor Strange’s newest story. With its fair share of jump scares, and a true focus on horror (and even the occasional tinge of gore), Raimi makes himself present throughout Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in its entirety. A friend of mine discussed his issue with the MCU not taking enough risks, and while I agree, it seems that Feige’s decision to employ Raimi and to create what could technically be considered the MCU’s first horror film is a step in the right direction. While there are still a number of issues in this regard, seeing the cinematic universe step out of its comfort zone for maybe the first time is a sign of good things to come.
I have some issues with the narrative–not because it isn’t semi-inventive or fun (because it is), but because I’m not sure that it really means anything in the grand scheme of the MCU. After shows like WandaVision and Loki, and the recently released Spider-Man: No Way Home, the world needs to see this story of the ever-growing multiverse continue, but this seems to be separate from each of those aforementioned projects. While each of those projects and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness all exist in the same corner of the MCU, it veering from what viewers should have seen is a disappointment. Furthermore, there is one scene that I am referring to as the “music fight.” I won’t go into detail–but the entirety of this scene is just cheesy. It’s odd, unnecessary, and feels forced–and without it I think the film would have been better. It’s an oddly lighthearted scene existing in a pocket of the film that is meant to be dark and harrowing. The mix of tones is confusing and poorly constructed. From time to time the dialogue fails to entertain and appears out of place as well, and there are moments of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness that fall flat as a result.
There’s no doubt that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a good film, but it’s also clear that it fails to live up to the expectations.There’s an abundance of characters that make the film fun, and it’s clear that Feige, Raimi, and Waldron did a fair amount of preparation when creating a story including this many characters. Some things feel rushed, and a good portion of the narrative feels either out of place or downright cheesy. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has its issues, and it’s far from perfect like many fans of the MCU anticipated it might be–but it takes the Doctor Strange series in the right direction. This is an incredibly fun film that neither makes nor breaks the MCU–and fans of the franchise are sure to find something to love.
Directed by Sam Raimi.
Written by Michael Waldron.
Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Rachel McAdams, Michael Stuhlbarg, Sheila Atim, Adam Hugill, Hayley Atwell, Lashana Lynch, Charlize Theron, John Krazinski, Anson Mount, Patrick Stewart, Julian Hilliard, Jett Klyne, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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