Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Film Review (No Spoilers)

'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' Marvel Studios

After his 9 year Directing hiatus, Sam Raimi (Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, The Evil Dead) has returned to direct one of the most mind-bending movies of all time. Fresh off of an Oscar nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role, Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game, The Power of the Dog, Doctor Strange) returns to reprise his role of Dr. Strange in more ways than one.

Synopsis:

"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."

What You See, Feel, and Hear

One thing that you notice early on in this film is that the tone is MUCH different than other MCU films. The tone is darker, with both the visuals as well as the story and this was to be expected with Sam Raimi at the helm. You experience many moments of horror and violence and there are scenes that make you think "wow, this is a Marvel movie, right?" One thing that is difficult in a film that is saturated with special effects is the quality of the story and that was noticeable during this movie. The dialogue and pivotal emotional moments in the story felt forced alongside the massive amount of special effects that were being used.

The acting performances were done well, but the dialogue seemed minimally thought out. There were even scenes that were noticeably cringeworthy which is a bit unexpected for the MCU. This may be the most, or at least one of the most ambitious Marvel films up to date. The introduction of the "illuminati" felt rushed, especially with a concept within the Marvel universe that can take on a film of its own, however it seemed to be used strictly as a cameo opportunity.

There wasn't much of a constructed emotional direction with this story. As a viewer, you're essentially taking in the cinematic experience rather than following a plot that you're emotionally invested in. Similar to Spider-Man: No Way Home there's no genuine description or explanation for the Multiverse but rather you're thrown into the midst of it and expected to piece together the puzzle as you move throughout the film.

My Take:

I was disappointed with this film. I admire the work of Benedict Cumberbatch but I was overly cautious when I learned that Sam Raimi was going to be the Director. This felt like a Sam Raimi film, not a Marvel film. Marvel is known for their action packed adventure stories with plenty of comedy and emotional moments and this felt completely opposite. The story was drawn out, the special effects were distracting, the violence didn't feel right, and the dark tone was uncomfortable in comparison to other Marvel films. I'm sure many will see the dark twist as a refreshing take for Marvel, whereas I saw it as an ambitious flop.

Grade: 6.3/10