Known for his quirky visuals and horror movie background, Sam Raimi is a perfect fit to direct this high energy but unusually dark installment in Marvel’s ongoing superhero saga.
Reviewing films in the sprawling Marvel Cinematic Universe becomes increasingly more difficult with each new entry. Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness is the 28th film in the MCU dating back to 2008. It is the sixth to include Doctor Strange but only the second to feature him as the protagonist. To summarize all that has taken place since Benedict Cumberbatch stepped into the role of Dr. Stephen Strange in 2016 is nearly impossible. So, please forgive me if I leave out a lot of detail. It’s not just intentional; it’s also necessary for my own sanity.
Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness takes place shortly after the events of 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home. In that film, Marvel introduced the concept of the Multiverse into the MCU. In short, the Multiverse allows different versions of people to exist simultaneously in different universes. As the movie opens, Doctor Strange meets America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez,) a woman who can physically travel between different universes. It’s a power she possesses but can’t fully control.
Chavez is being pursued by demons who wish to take this power from her. If her power were to be used improperly, it’s possible that different universes could begin to intersect and destroy each other. Doctor Strange and fellow sorcerer Wong (Benedict Wong) attempt to protect Chavez. (I’m purposely not identifying the name of the antagonist as it’s one of the few surprises awaiting the viewer.)
Known for his quirky visuals and horror movie background, Sam Raimi is a perfect fit to direct this high energy but unusually dark installment in Marvel’s ongoing superhero saga. Those familiar with his work on the Evil Dead films will see and hear many of Raimi’s trademark elements. Helping in that department is Danny Elfman, who has provided the musical score for several of Raimi’s films, including two of the early 2000s Spider-Man movies, and the underappreciated A Simple Plan. The blend of Raimi’s kinetic visuals, Elfman’s playfully menacing score, and Marvel’s CGI-heavy set pieces makes for a whopper of a sensory experience.
Sadly, though, an underwhelming and frequently nonsensical story derails what could have been a rousing thrill-ride of a movie. The Multiverse allows for so many possibilities that it’s hard to fathom how screenwriter Michael Waldron didn’t produce anything nearly as interesting as he did in the similarly themed Loki series on Disney+. Aside from a few cameos from Marvel characters we’ve never seen in the MCU before, there’s nothing in terms of surprises that compares to what Spider-Man: No Way Home delivered only months ago.
That’s not to say that this isn’t an entertaining superhero romp. Doctor Strange, especially as played by Benedict Cumberbatch, is an extremely likable hero. His ongoing playful repartee with Wong remains a delight. Cumberbatch brings a mix of sophistication and sarcasm to the role that I quite enjoy. Support from the likes of Rachel McAdams, Elizabeth Olsen (as Wanda Maximoff), and Chiwetel Ejiofor bolsters the film even further.
Because Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is just one cog in the massive MCU machine, I’m sure the script has to check certain boxes before it’s given a green light. It has to continue the ongoing MCU story-line while setting things up for the next scheduled entry in the series. (Which, as of now, is Thor: Love and Thunder.) I can only imagine what could have been had Raimi and Waldron been allowed to go full tilt without the inherent constraints of the MCU. Oh, well.
Disappointing but still worth seeing, Doctor Strange deserves better.
3.5 out of 5.0 stars
