Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is glorious proof that Marvel have gone beyond satiating audience expectations and initiating newcomers.

It must be difficult for them - with so many prior films and TV shows that audiences need to have seen to get enjoyment out of this film there must have been someone in the boardroom asking for a little more exposition or flashback-like content.

The fact that they’ve stuck to their guns and kept the film as a rollicking, thrill ride extension of the last few years is reward to the fans who’ve lapped up everything they’ve released with increasingly rabid fervour.

Phase Four has been almost pure fan bait at times. After the years-long build up to the incredible Infinity War/Endgame double bill it feels like the right move to take a step sideways and introduce new concepts and dynamics rather than another ‘world ending’ villain. The TV side is capably dealing with dimensions and realities in shows like Moon Knight and Loki whilst the films have gone full bore into the multiverse with Spider-Man: No Way Home apparently only the tip of the iceberg.

This is a particularly ‘fan bait’ feeling film and, actually, a little less meaningful for Phase Four as a whole than was perhaps anticipated. Having said that, there’s some cameos for the ages, a new hero character who might just become a vitally important cog moving forward and brilliant character progression for some of our existing Avengers (although Wong is sadly used to purely spout exposition throughout the whole film.)

Our titular Doctor gets to explore different sides to his character but, as expected, the MVP here is Wanda who [minor spoiler] finally gets to indulge in a little more villainy after the events of WandaVision. I won’t mention more about what happens, or dare touch on those cameos, but you’re in for a treat (and, of course, stay for the credit stingers.)

Sam Raimi does a brilliant job of adding a little more darkness and horror elements into the MCU to create yet another film that feels entirely distinct yet very much part of the wider story but, sadly, the plot is dragged down a tad by being one of the only times the MCU has resorted to ‘item collecting’ and plot MacGuffins (in this instance, one rather good and one rather evil spell book.) The gonzo action and multiverse jumping make up for it, but it does feel rather slight when you reflect back after and it drops a few unfortunate plot holes and ‘unexplained power’ threads.

On the whole though it’s a batshit crazy, immensely enjoyable addition to the greatest movie franchise out there. A little less than perhaps was expected, a little more like a ‘story of the MCU’ tale rather like the second Guardians or Ant-Man, but nevertheless another example of top-drawer superhero, blockbuster, sci-fi and fantasy cinema. Suitably Strange.

4 stars ****