MOVIE REVIEW: DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS

 

Dr Stephen Strange casts a forbidden spell that opens a portal to the multiverse. However, a threat emerges that may be too big for his team to handle.

Director: Sam Raimi

Cast:  Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg, Rachel McAdams

Release Date: May 6, 2022

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fi

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, frightening images and some language.

Runtime: 2h 6m

Review:

Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness is a Sam Raimi film from start to finish, it's bloody, outlandish but never boring even if the actual plot plays like a Rick and Morty episode.  Raimi takes very little time to put his stamp on his entry into the Marvel universe by throwing out monster and mayhem from the start.  People familiar with his filmography will pick up on nods to his past film with Evil Dead and Drag Me to Hell being the most obvious inspirations.  Benedict Cumberbatch is surprisingly at ease amidst the general insanity that Raimi throws at him in the film.  He clearly comfortable in the role but you get the distinct sense that he'd relish a bit more depth to his character this far into his run as he throws out quips at the same pace as magic spells.  Elizabeth Olsen's Wanda is untethered, broken and  and she plays her with impressive intensity even though her backstory will requires some Disney+ homework for the uninitiated.  Olsen has the ability to display pain and loss with naturalistic ease and she does so with great effect even though some fans may not be happy with her character ultimate arch.  Rachel McAdams gets some time to shine in the backend of the film which makes you wish the film had made better use of her while Xochitl Gomez is given the task of being little more than a human McGuffin.  The multiverse conceit opens up worlds of possibilities and Raimi takes great pleasure in delivering fanboy moments especially when there aren't any real consequences to what happens.  Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness is one of the more jumbled entries in the Marvel franchise but it does overcome some of its story deficiencies by letting Raimi go nuts.  

B