“This is Evil Dead Doctor Strange”
That’s what I was saying in disappointment as I watched Marvel characters stumble around the screen like they were starring in Army of Darkness 2. But the hard truth is that the highly anticipated Doctor Strange and The Multiverse of Madness is ruined by director Sam Raimi’s signature style.
Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is back, and this time he’s rolling with Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) as they try to unlock the secrets of the multiverse being anchored by a younger hero who doesn’t know how to use her powers. Christine (Rachel McAdams), Wong (Benedict Wong), and Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) are also returning from the first film.
It’s Director Sam Raimi who didn’t understand the assignment. I was one of many who thought he was a perfect fit here. He’s got Marvel experience with the first Spiderman movies. But he decided he wanted his fingerprints on everything here. The monsters move like Evil Dead. The camera moves like Evil Dead. And some very important Marvel developments are ruined because of this messy story.
The cast is still on its mark. Especially Olsen, who is coming off of her award nominated performance in Wandavision and watches all of that hard work go in the toilet on this nonsense. We’re never really bored but we’re also asked to become attached to the new hero minutes after meeting her when we paid to see the ones we already know and the style which won us over to begin with.
Doctor Strange isn’t Eternals bad, but unless you’ve got to know the latest Marvel spoilers, I’d skip it.
Stay for the credits. But even they’re not that great.
Doctor Strange and The Multiverse of Madness
Grade: C-
Running time: 2 hours 6 minutes
Rated PG 13
1 Comment