(The following review contains no spoilers!)
Marvel Studios can do no wrong. They’ve given us compelling characters who transform into mystifying heroes, flawed people who become their enemies, and a diverse cast of supporting heroes who are now headlining their own films and television series. For Marvel, there is no such thing as a small idea, a small character, or a small film and that seems to be the philosophy when they crafted the story for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Benedict Cumberbatch first donned the cape as the titular Doctor Strange way back in 2016, just after Captain America had his own Civil War. It was new territory for Marvel on the big screen as it had to introduce the concept of magic in this grounded universe, a universe that had Norse Gods and shrinking thieves no less! Grounding their characters seemed effortless as the core of Doctor Strange’s journey in his first film was to find his meaning in life after losing the ability to perform as a surgeon. A few Avengers films later he has become a master of the mystic arts. He’s gone toe-to-toe with Thanos in said Avengers films and he even brought together every live-action Spider-Man last Christmas in a truly epic tale. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness however feels like a misstep in comparison.
I love Marvel and I love their characters, each one is unique and this film really highlights some of their characters very well. The introduction of Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez is one of these highlights as a new teenage superhero who can create star-shaped portals to different universes. She is someone who doesn’t know her place in the universe, (or is that multiverse?). Until she comes across Doctor Strange and tells him about a multiversal threat. Tying together last year’s Disney+ show WandaVision is Elizabeth Olsen returning as the newly monikered Scarlet Witch, who has her own agenda with the multiverse. The cat and mouse chase between America and the Scarlet Witch is really the only highlight of the film, with the latter proving to be an integral part to the heart of the film. So where does this film go wrong?
It’s no secret that there were numerous cameos rumoured for this film the moment it got announced. You can’t have a Marvel-set multiverse film without referencing their legacy and roots. Some promotional trailers and adverts may have spoilt a few surprises but it still feels like a massive lead-up for something good to happen which unfortunately diverts you from the crux of the story. Then there’s the visual effects. Due to the nature of the character of Doctor Strange there was bound to be an abundance of effects. The first film had a great visual template with spinning mirrors and flipped realities. However in his second film the effects feel generic, constant and bloated. You can really tell what is real and what is fake and that is a sign of bad effects. Not all of the effects are terrible with one scene involving the Scarlet Witch in the Mirror Dimension being a stand-out, but you can’t help but notice the others.
★★☆☆☆
2/5
Filmmaker Sam Raimi has proven he can handle superheroes with his Spider-Man trilogy being a touchstone in Superhero Cinema. With a large cast, a massive canvas, and a plethora of effects artists at his disposal, he seems to have played it safe instead of taking a bold risk. Benedict Cumberbatch is fantastic in the role of Doctor Strange, a role he has made his own, but he appears to play second fiddle to the likes of America Chavez and the Scarlet Witch which isn’t a bad thing but it is his name on the title card! If you’re a Marvel fan you will enjoy some the surprises in store and you will understand the story better, but as a standalone film it just doesn’t work as well as other sequels such as Thor: Ragnarok and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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