#MovieReview: Doctor Strange jumps into the multiverse
Such is the extent to which Marvel wants to monopolise your time, they would rather crowbar in exposition to set up a later plot point than deliver actual entertainment.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has a whirlwind second act which does not completely save its lackluster first.
The film is directed by Sam Raimi, who ushered in the superhero era with his excellent and grounded Spider-Man series in the early 2000s.
Although Marvel were no doubt hoping to cash in on his past success and cult status, most of the Raimi-isms are muted in favour of typical world and sequel-building blandness.
His signature style creeps through in the second half, which is much stronger if you are willing to wade through the unusually boring first.
Such is the extent to which Marvel wants to monopolise your time, they would rather crowbar in exposition to set up a later plot point than deliver actual entertainment.
Doctor Strange is the most egregious example yet, with many in-jokes and character motivations only understood if all 28 previous movies and six television shows were watched in full.
It is becoming untenable for average moviegoers to keep up, but Marvel is now so ingrained in popular culture that many will rationalise it just to keep in the loop. The box office numbers bear this out.
Doctor Strange packs a whole lot into its two-hour runtime, including the introduction of new heroes and villains which will no doubt please ardent comic fans.
It also introduces the first proof-of-concept for the titular multiverse, in which all kinds of future hijinks will no doubt ensue.
Did your favourite hero die in an earlier film? No problem, let’s hop to another universe in which they are alive. The possibilities are endless.
The multiverse is the end of all realistic stakes for characters in the Marvel canon, but will certainly provide mind-bending and exciting CGI visuals.
Some are present in Doctor Strange, including a scene where Strange fights against himself using the power of music – yes, you read that right.
When it does not take itself too seriously and Raimi is allowed to flourish, then this movie provides some of Marvel’s best moments, including an excellent Elizabeth Olsen performance.
Unfortunately, it also produces some of the worst.
Rated 13 for language and violence.
2.5/5.
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