Doctor Strange 2: Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Released on May 6, this year (2022) Director Sam Raimi’s clumsy sequel to 2016’s “Doctor Strange” pits Marvel’s Master of the Mystic Arts against a scary Scarlet Witch has become the biggest release of 2022 so far by making $450 million opening worldwide, pleasing Marvel Studios and Disney.
In my opinion, the film is loud, often visually arresting, oddly unengaging and rushed all at the same time. First half of the film, managed to hold the audience attention to a limit but the second half of the movie is very disappointing for MCU standards.
Clocking the film just over two hours (including the interminable credits) it’s one of the shortest MCU films in my opinion, though you’d be hard-pressed to find fans who would have yearned for any more sizzling energy bolts and mystic shields exploding in endless showers of sparks were all confused.
The multiverse concept triggered a playful, pinballing game of narrative tag in the Spider-Man franchise, and unleashes an anarchic onslaught of silliness in Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s forthcoming Everything Everywhere All at Once.
But in this latest outing for Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange 2, who is tasked with protecting dimension-hopping teen America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) from nefarious forces intent on stealing her powers, the whole multiverse business is starting to feel more like a joylessly efficient get-out card to be played whenever the screenplay finds itself written into a corner.
Film Story (Spoiler Alert):
Teasers and trailers for “Doctor Strange 2” were somewhat misleading as to the Scarlet Witch’s motivations and purpose. But brilliant special effects are a revelation here, and the interdimensional contortions Cumberbatch experiences will leave you feeling like you’ve been strapped into a looping hyper-coaster for two hours.
Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) plot device in this hurried affair that has Doctor Strange bouncing through a variety of alternate realities to protect a dimension-hopping girl named America Chavez and stop the Scarlet Witch from enslaving the multiverse using an evil spell book called the Darkhold.
There’s an early high point in which Doctor Strange and Wong are forced to do battle with a monocular giant octopus, while (Rachel McAdams’s) Christine, whose wedding has been interrupted by the tentacled gatecrasher, simply rolls her eyes.
But the fun is short-lived, courtesy of Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and director Sam Raimi’s commitment to grisly visual flourishes.
Unlike movies such as Black Panther and Shang-Chi, which functioned as self-contained entities, this film requires an encyclopedic knowledge of Marvel minutiae and world-class cross-referencing skills to fully work. And who, outside the die-hard fanbase, has the bandwidth for that level of commitment?
But the obligatory post-credit surprise sets up the MCU’s future Multiversal War as the sorceress Clea (Charlize Theron) appears to tell Strange he’s caused a dimensional incursion that must be fixed.
There are necessary references to Marvel TV shows like “WandaVision” and the “Avengers” films, and having a strong handle on past events in the MCU are necessary to ingest all that occurs.
Despite its express train pacing, tiring exposition dumps and extra-large plot holes, all of the performances are rock-solid. I would give 2 out 5 stars to the MCU movie, even after being a hardcore marvel fan. Do watch the movie and let me know your opinion about the film, since the film is getting mixed review’s till now.
Also a personal suggestion to whoever is planning to watch the movie, please do your homework if you don’t want to sit confused in the theatres. The movie is still available in theatres, do watch it and share your opinion in the comment section.
Read our other review and analysis of The Kashmir Files
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