Movie Review # 525: Doctor Strange: Into The Multiverse Of Madness (2022)

Okay, well, everyone, as I’m sure some of us know, we are headed into the summer season. This summer seems to be a little different, as we have not one, but two Marvel superhero films, Doctor Strange: Into The Multiverse Of Madness, and Thor: Love & Thunder. So now, let’s talk about the sequel to the 2016 film that covered mostly another superhero with a flying cape, like Superman, Doctor Strange’s mostly solo sequel, Doctor Strange: Into The Multiverse Of Madness.

Plot: While attempting to retrieve the Book Of Vishanti, America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) accidentally creates a portal that sends her, and Doctor Strange (or a version of him) to Earth in an alternate universe. Now, a different version of Doctor Strang, and Chavez must work together to find out why a demon was trying to kill her, while she tried to retrieve the Book Of Vishanti. Will they be able to find the culprit behind these new attacks?

So, we come to a follow up to the 2016 film in which Doctor Strange made his first debut. That being said, did the sequel, Doctor Strange: Into The Multiverse Of Madness end up being just as good, if not better? Well, it’s still good, but probably not as good as the original. First of all, the storyline for this second Doctor Strange installment seems to feel a little more complicated than it’s predecessor. What’s more is that the makers of this sequel most likely expected the general audience yo have watched the newer Wandavision show on Disney+ in order to understand quite a few aspects of this sequel. That sounds great, right? Well, there’s just one problem! There might be a slight chance that NOT EVERYONE HAS DISNEY+, DESPITE STILL WATCHING A GOOD MAJORITY OF THESE MARVEL SUPERHERO FILMS. I mean come on! So yeah, apparently one would either need to get Disney+, or use someone else’s account, and watch Wandavision in order to understand this newer Doctor Strange movie more. Really? Should people have to few obligated to do so? Well, whatever! That aside, the tone of the film seems to feel a little too different from the first film at times. Oh, and another thing! Did we really need to have a gay/lesbian couple in this film? Grrrrrr! Come on! Could we please have less of that in these recent, or, better yet, in future films to come? We, the audience, don’t need to have that thrown in our faces as constantly as we have been, you know?

Now, are there some good things in this film? Very much so. The twists in this film are very well done. Also, there some really great creative elements that are scattered at different points in this film. As for the acting, how could we not briefly talk about how great that is? Even Chiwetel Ejiofor, who of course played the antagonist in Doctor Strange 1, was a fantastic villain. The music by Danny Elfman is surprisingly really good too. Yeah, how cool is that that we get to hear Elfman, who composed scores for quite a few Tim Burton directed films in the past, compose for a Marvel superhero film like this one? Really cool, wouldn’t you say? Oh, and how could you not love the visuals in this film? Truth be told, I wouldn’t be surprised if one were to see this film in 3D, and the visuals were to look even more phenomenal from that standpoint, you know? Finally, the film teaches some good lessons about being willing to accomplish impossible tasks, and some other good lessons like that.

And that’s my review for Doctor Strange: Into The Multiverse Of Madness. Apparently, one needs to watch Wandavision either on Disney+, or some other way before seeing this film. Well, whether you see the show before this film, or not, you’ll certainly enjoy this film to one degree, or another. It just depends on, first of all, if you see the Wandavision show, and two, if you’re okay with the different tone, and direction that this sequel takes from the first film. I would say definitely see it regardless, especially if you for sure have been following at least the Marvel movies up until this point. And yeah, as mentioned before, you’re still bound to enjoy this film to one extent, or another. Well, go see it, and see what you think!

Final Grade: B