Hey gang, Valkor here. Kudos to the Disney/Marvel marketing department because they pulled off an amazing feat of keeping much of the details of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness hidden. I went into this one thinking I knew all that I needed to know about this film, to have it all tossed away within the first 10–15 minutes. Regardless, it was an impressive effort for which they sold me on almost every aspect of this film. And I'm super excited to watch it again! But for now, let us get my input on the latest Phase 4 film of the MCU. There are some mad spoilers ahead, so if you want to go into this one fresh, I would suggest not going beyond the poster below.
Doctor Strange's second solo adventure begins with a version of himself being followed by a powerful beast in his dreams. In tow is a young woman named America Chavez, whose abilities Strange wishes to use to help end the situation. The "dream" version of Strange, on the other hand, dies, and Chavez manages to flee before suffering the same fate. Back in our reality, our Strange is off to watch his ex-girlfriend Christine get married. However, another beast has shown up nearby. Guess who it's chasing? Chavez. Wong shows up for the assist. And after the duo defeats the creature, Strange realizes that he'll need a lot of support to deal with whatever threat they're about to face.
This prompts Strange to pay a visit to Wanda Maximoff, who is also coping with the aftermath of what she did to Westview (if you haven't already, see Wandavision). We learn that Wanda is not only living inside a universe she created (again) but that she is also the one who sent the monsters after Chavez in the hopes of gaining her superpowers, which would allow her to travel the multiverse and be with her children. So it's up to Strange to do his best to keep Chavez safe from the Scarlet Witch's clutches. And he'll have to go through several layers of the multiverse to repair things.
One character, whom they showcased in the commercial, which isn’t too much of a spoiler, is Professor Xavier, played by Patrick Stewart. What’s awesome (and very spoilerish) is when his character appears, they played the X-Men 92 theme song; This was fan service or Stewart is playing the 92 version of Xavier, but in live-action form. Regardless, I was beyond hyped when it happened! But I won’t delve any further; I’ll save the rest of the film’s tasty bits for the TOV Breakdown! Oh, and before I forget, there are two post-credit endings worth staying for. As always, never leave an MCU before the credits are over.
The Good:
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a must-see for Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film and Disney+ streaming series fans! It was a blast from beginning to end! And as a fan of Marvel comics (or any comic book), I was blown away by how it all came together to create one incredible film. It's how I imagined the MCU films/series would unfold, from Wandavision to No Way Home and now Multiverse of Madness. And they don't let you down! When I first heard about Multiverse of Madness, I assumed it would be ridiculously campy; Much to my surprise, it was anything but! The film was directed by horror director Sam Raimi, who excels in blending the worlds of comic books and horror. The story he works with is dark, with plenty of terror and action. And you can feel his influence throughout. It was also a nice touch bringing in Bruce Campbell, who has appeared in most of Raimi's films, which made for a fun cameo; The film does not go too far or overly graphic, and it does not hold back when it comes to what happens to some characters. I could go further into some deaths or the more graphic scenes, but that would go too far into spoiler territory. And believe me, you want to go into this film as fresh as possible. As far as the acting goes, it is what you would expect as it’s on par with any of the previous MCU films. Benedict Cumberbatch is simply amazing as always as Dr. Strange. But I found Xochitl Gomez quite refreshing as America Chavez. And I can’t wait to see how Chavez’s abilities will shape the future of the MCU. And give it up to Elizabeth Olsen as The Scarlet Witch, who blends scary and sexy so well. I didn’t expect the direction her character was going, but I loved every minute of her onscreen presence! In the end, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is all kinds of awesome! And I’m super excited to watch it again!
The Bad:
The film is called Multiverse of Madness, and I was expecting more traversing through the MCU multiverse (and beyond). That is what they led me to believe as I followed the production of this film. We got a significant taste of this in No Way Home, but not so much here. However, I’m glad for those who showed up, but I was expecting more unless cameos were left on the cutting room floor. If there’s more, were they scrapped for time and pacing purposes? If so, will we get a broader cut for the home release?
The Ugly:
N/A
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is making the theatrical rounds, and it’s worth checking out, especially if you’ve been following all the MCU stuff. I had so much fun with the film; I loved the action, the story, and the cameos. And I can’t wait to experience Strange’s journey through the multiverse once again. I highly recommend it. So, out of TOV 5 stars, I’m giving Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness 4.5 stars!
