Review 616: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

 

There was an episode of The Flash (Season 2) that introduced the concept of the Multiverse to the Arrowverse. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is clearly meant to the MCU equivilent of that two part episode but never delivers upon its premise.

 

Following the events of Avengers: Endgame & WandaVision, Dr Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbactch) continues his research on the Time Stone. But an old friend-turned-enemy puts an end to his plans and causes Strange to unleash unspeakable evil.

 

What holds Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness from greatness is some scripting and pacing issues, the story (penned by Loki showrunner Michael Waldron) is very messy at times which I suppose is to be expected when dealing with such a vast concept like the Multiverse. But it feels like a hodge podge of different ideas and scenes that feel loosely strung together in a hurry. Much like Eternals from last November, it feels like director Sam Raimi, Waldron and maybe Kevin Feige are trying to bite off more than they can chew. This instalment goes heavy on the speactacle and light on the story.

The films feels very rushed, it's like it never stops to develop any of its ideas or characters. It's as if it's saying "Here's Doctor Strange, here's the Scarlett Witch, here's the Multiverse, here's some impressive special effects, lets get on with this come on move it"

 

The movie contains Multiversal Madness and Mahem as the title suggests, but not really very much.

Without delving into spoilers, there are about three different realities explored in depth in the film including the prime MCU Universe. Much like the first film, there's a memorably trippy, colourful and wacky montage of Strange and Chavez falling through the Multiverse with different asthetics, but for a film with ostensibly lofty ambitions, the films exploration of this new corner of the MCU feels oddly small and lacking in scope, scale and ambition. Unlike the Daniels' overwhelming but boldly inventive and extravagant indie hit, Everything Everywhere All at Once, from earlier this year, very little ambition leaps off the screen.

I'm not quite sure if this movie had quite the courage of it's convictions to properly commit and it never really gose for broke on its appealing concepts.

 

In the end, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is just not good enought to live up to its own potential and with such a wacky title like that, I just expected more and I don't think anyone can blame me for that.

Sam Raimi's direction is  clearly relishing the oportunity to flex his horror movie muscles proving that this film clearly and snuggly fits into his wheelhouse. On the other hand, there's a lot that goes into making an MCU film that he clearly doesn't tapped into i.e. pacing, building off of what came before and  all of which are predominatly missing from Multiverse of Madness. The score by Danny Elfman is majestic, the production design is marvellous; Earth-838 which the film primarily takes place on is carpeted in gorgeous flower-covered rooftops, the costumes are excellent, the action scenes are exciting and visually stunning including an opening chase through a space between universes. The cinematography is beautiful and captures the beauty and spleandor of the films few alternate universe locations

Benedict Cumberbatch continues to shine in role of Stephen Strange, his dedication to this role and this shared universe keeps this character shining from start to finish. Strange is still learning about the Multiverse and he's begining to question if he's content with his life. Stephen is a workaholic because he trusts no one thereby robbing himself of happiness. It's this fear losing (his job, Christine) that guides him. He shoulders the burdan of saving the world and is unable to let anyone help

Strange, after all, is an elitist both as a neurosurgeon and as a socerer. Screenwriter Michael Waldron has likened Strange to the late chef Anthony Bourdain, someone who was a man of the people, but had an intense intellect. Anthony Bourdain has been everywhere and seen everything so nothing (like Strange) surprises him at this point. Waldron also compares him to Indiana Jones where he's the kind of hero who can take a punch inspite of all he's been through.

Elizabeth Olsen delivers a moving performance playing Wanda Maximoff/Scarlett Witch. This film is very much Wanda's story as it is Stephen's. Her story runs almost parallel to his as we see her willing to put her own personal happiness before the safety of the whole Multiverse. She beautifully conveys the pain and the maternal nature of her character even when the screenplay fails to sufficiently take us inside her perspective and to make her changes seem real and inevitable.

WandaVision left her in such an intriguing place with loads of possible new directions to take such a complex character. Instead, the screenplay keeps going back to the same tired, shallow, uninteresting character traits that treads over ground that's already been covered sufficiently in WandaVision.

We’re far enough past the point of diminishing returns that being “corrupted by the Darkhold” just feels like lazy writing not to mention robbing Wanda of her agency.

It's this kind of cliched characterisation that makes it seem like Marvel doesn't know what to do with certain characters and makes me not look forward to where they'll take her next.

 

I would've much prefered they used a character like Nightmare from the comics (as original director Scott Derrickson had originally planned to) as the the main antagonist.

Newcomer Xochitl Gomez is a true find playing America Chavez. The movie is very much her story as it is Stephen and Wanda's. She’s a young person with extraordinary powers yet she has no handle on them. She’s been alone for a long time and has been on the run both literally and figuratively Her journey of self-discovery sees her growing in her self-belief and owning her powers.

Benedict Wong is regretably left without much stuff to do. Wong is the Doctor Strange equivilent to Alfred, he serves as Stephen's moral centre always pushing him to do what's right.

 

Chiwetel Ejiofor is kind of wasted in the long run as Baron Karl Mordo. Without delving into spoilers, the end of Doctor Strange (2016) set him as such a fascinating antagonist/foil for Stephen Strange with loads of possible directions to take him, as well as his rivalry with Strange, in but I guess that is not in the cards. 

 

Rachel McAdams is once again a delight playing Christine Palmer. The film explores the impact of Strange choosing to put protecting the world Interdimentional threats ahead of their relationship   

There are also a bunch of cameos from Multiversal variants of previous characters whom I will not spoil but whose appearences, like the rest of the film, left me feeling underwhelmed.

Things just got out of hand, 3/5.

The Anonymous Critic.