Movie Review: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) directed by Sam Raimi

Doctor Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) has been having horrible dreams where he is fleeing with a teenage girl (Xochitl Gomez), fighting a large, seemingly undefeatable demon while trying to acquire a book of power. Strange wakes up to his own nightmare--his beloved Doctor Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams) is getting married to another guy. Strange goes to the wedding anyway and has an awkward time. During the high-rise reception, a fight break out in the streets below. It's a large, Avenger-class fight with vehicles flying through the air. Strange goes down to help and discovers a demon attacking the girl from his dreams. Wong (Benedict Wong) shows up and helps fight off the demon. They go off with the girl who claims she's from another universe. She says Strange's dream actually happened. She has the ability to travel between universes and, as proof, shows them the dead body of the Doctor Strange from her universe. She does not really have control over her powers and the demons are being summoned by someone who wants her powers. She's reluctant to trust this Doctor Strange since the one from her universe would have stolen her powers to keep them from the demon. Strange goes to recruit Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) to help protect the girl and fight the magical demons since Wanda has great magical powers. Things get worse from there.

Like most Marvel movies, the story moves at a swift pace and has tons of action and dramatic moments (and special effects). Unlike most Marvel movies, director Sam Raimi shows his style in the film. The storyline has many horror elements that Raimi is able to capitalize on (though the movie never really becomes a full-on horror). Magic never looked more occult in the Marvel universe. Many of the scenes of peril have a sharper edge. The traveling through different universes also showcases Raimi's creativity as does some transitions and other visual elements. And, of course, Bruce Campbell has a cameo. I am a huge fan of Raimi (who is most famous for directing the Tobey Maguire Spider-man films and the Evil Dead trilogy) so I was very happy with the film. It blends the best of typical Marvel films with the best of Raimi's distinctive style.

The movie also grapples with some larger issues. First, other people ask Strange if he is happy. Instinctively he replies yes but on reflection, he realizes a lot of things that would satisfy him are out of reach (like Christine) because of his powers and the subsequent responsibilities he has. Saving the world is not as satisfying for him either. These reflections lead into the other theme: Is Strange really a hero? The Stranges from other universes make reckless and/or selfish decisions that cause more problems than they fix. This Strange has a history of wanting to be in control and to "go it alone" which has had mixed results. The film doesn't explicitly resolve the issue. Strange is still a work in progress.

This movie is definitely a step up from the original Doctor Strange film and advances a lot of stuff in the larger Marvel cinematic storyline (which includes the series content from Disney+).

Recommended, highly for Raimi fans.