After a five month dry spell of Marvel Cinematic Universe film entries since “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” we finally have “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” the long awaited sequel to the first “Doctor Strange” film- and the Disney+ series “WandaVision” and “No Way Home” AND pretty much every other Marvel film. Yes, there’s a lot to talk about, or not talk about in fear of spoilers, but in the briefest possible sense, this film has everything you’ve come to expect from a MCU film plus lots more surprises than even “No Way Home” had- no easy feat.
To even describe the plot of this film would ruin half the fun, so instead, let’s dive into the characters. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch, “The Imitation Game”) is forced to deal with numerous multiversal threats here, but also his inner demons. Strange’s backstory, failed romance with Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams in a welcomely beefed up role) and the fateful decisions he’s made over the past few films are all explored here, making this a deep dive into the title hero much in the same way “Black Widow” was.
But this being a Marvel film, there’s a whole ensemble to deal with. Benedict Wong as Wong is once again a fan favorite with his underplayed comedy and a few hero moments sprinkled in. Xochitl Gomez as newcomer America Chavez shines, bringing levity and even some great drama to the proceedings, but it’s Elizabeth Olsen who’s the standout here, giving not only her best performance as Wanda Maximoff, but one of her best performances bar none. Building off the success of “WandaVision” was no small feat, and the way this film handles her character will no doubt be discussed, but Olsen sells every minute of her screen time and somehow outdoes her Emmy nominated performance in the streaming series- which BTW, is a must watch before you see this film.
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Much was made of the first film’s director Scott Derrickson dropping out and being replaced by Sam Raimi, who directed the Tobey Maguire “Spider-Man” trilogy. Seeing Raimi finally get to play in the MCU with a mega budget and the pantheon of characters and mythology up to this point is certainly a treat, leading to some truly wowing set pieces, but there’s a sizable tradeoff with him aboard. Remember when Raimi traumatized tons of children with the hospital sequence in “Spider-Man 2?” That’s merely an appetizer for the level of violence in this film, which borders on truly grisly.
While credit must be given to Marvel and Disney for going full force with the horror themes, even for seasoned moviegoers, this film gets dark and gory and definitely pushes the boundaries of the PG-13 rating. Normally, Marvel films are for all, but for this one, I’d strongly urge parents to do some homework before taking your little ones to see it.
Even so, “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” is a truly thrilling, surprise filled and epically entertaining spectacle, showing that Marvel is certainly not slowing down in Phase 4. While its violence may turn off some younger viewers, those with a strong stomach will without question be thrilled and leave the theater abuzz, eagerly awaiting the next installment.
“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” is now playing in theaters.