Dr. Strange has never been a typical Marvel super hero. After all, he is a sorcerer. The rules of magic are not easily defined, nor should they be. When pitted against a non-magic equipped adversary, the supernaturally powered combatant has the advantage. Which is why it makes sense for a Dr. Strange flick to feature the powerful Scarlet Witch. Yet Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness had the potential to be so much more.
How was the story?
Right out of the gate viewing the film I had a complaint. One needed to watch the Disney Plus series Wandavision in preparation to view this movie. This film’s narrative is a direct continuation of the final episode from the show. Indeed, it’s essential to the plot. My second complaint overall is the scope of the story. But don’t just take my word for it. Here’s indie filmmaker Kevin Smith’s take from his podcast:
“I guess the ‘Multiverse of Madness’ implied to me before I saw the movie: ‘You’re gonna see so many iterations of these characters’…and this is not a complaint, it just felt like they promised Disney World and gave you Six Flags…In terms of a ‘Multiverse of Madness it; was like ‘Well, I guess we went to more than one universe but we didn’t really spend a ton of time doing (it).'”
Director Sam Raimi is best known for the The Evil Dead media franschise. It all began with the 1981 American supernatural horror film The Evil Dead written and directed by Sam Raimi starring Bruce Campbell. One can easily couple this franchise to the story of Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. It is as if Sam Raimi was directing another Evil Dead movie but with an exorbitant MCU budget.
My final complaint lies directly with one of the lead characters, America Chavez (played by Xochitl Gomez). She served little purpose other than to facilitate travel between multiverses. I didn’t feel fully invested in this character and Dr. Strange wasn’t either. Their relationship lacked any deep emotional stake.
How are the special effects?
The Marvel Studio visual team’s execution remains excellent. Yet they did not push the envelope further than the first Dr. Strange (2016) movie. In addition, cameo character appearances were rather limited and certain scenes felt rushed or static as if they had been shot on a sound stage as an afterthought.
The movie has a PG-13 rating. Can I take my kids?
The difference between this movie and other MCU films is the introduction of horror. The intentional use of on-screen horror-based action to instill fear and anxiety might overwhelm younger viewers. Especially if they have never been exposed to the genre. Expect a watered down version of violence comparable to Sam Raimi’s Army of Darkness.
Are there any ideal moments for Bathroom Breaks?
Oddly enough, this is a movie in which you wouldn’t miss much of the story if you left at almost any point of the film. But if you had to pick a moment, I’d go with when Dr. Strange and America Chavez first arrive on Earth-838.
Final Thoughts
If you plan to see the movie, just be sure to lower your expectations. Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness did not live up to the hype. If you liked the original 2016 film you’ll be entertained by this one. I think Disney missed an opportunity to make a 6 episode series instead of a movie. It would have allowed for more character development of America Chavez as well as the potential to explore more of the multiverse.
Overall Grade: B-
Recommended for kids ages 13 and up.
Pros:Benedict Cumberbatch continues to evolve his portrayal of Dr. Strange. Elizabeth Olsen turns in a wonderful performance as Scarlet Witch.
Cons: You end up with Multiverse-lite instead of the grand adventure and multiple iterations of characters fans thought they would get. No appearance of Vision. John Krasinki phoned in his role.
Official Movie Trailer
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