The MCU seems to be following the Ryan Murphy American Horror Story model in that only every other film in phase four is any good. Black Widow was a letdown, Shang Chi was an absolute delight, we should forget that The Eternals even exists, and now we have Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness that is not only a treat but something that could possibly setup everything that is to come for the films in the next decade. This is the kind of movie making that they have come to be known for, and while it’s far from perfect, it’s a spectacle to behold and surprisingly filled with subtext that breaks to the surface more often than not.
It’s really hard to summarize the plot without spoilers, but from what has been revealed in the trailers is that something (or someone) has unleashed the dangers the multiverse, and both creatures and humans are breaking into our own universe and wreaking havoc wherever they go. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), realizing he is out of his depth, calls upon an old ally, Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen), who seems to have a much better grasp of the situation than he or the Sorcerer Supreme (Benedict Wong). However, Wanda is still reeling from the events at Westview, and it’s not clear if the fallout from that will allow her to help her friends, or if she is more interested in the potential the multiverse might unlock and illuminate for her own, personal quest.
It is rare that I will ever give homework before telling people to watch a movie, but for Madness, there is some essential required viewing. Infinity War, Endgame, Wandavision, part of What if…?, and probably Loki are absolutely essential to figuring out what is going on. To those who skip this step, you will probably get slightly lost along the way, but the film does do a decent job of summarizing what took place in those, however, the emotional impact will not be as potent without them.
And “emotional” is probably the best word to encapsulate what Madness is all about. Sure, there are wizards, and monsters, and magic (oh my!), but the crux of the story revolves around Wanda’s dealing with the her grief, Strange’s figuring out what is actually important in life, and newcomer America Chavez’ (Xochitl Gomez) overcoming the anxiety that has plagued her since she was a child. These themes are not what you would always expect to find in a big-budget superhero blockbuster, but they are its true face which slightly hides behind the façade of CGI and comic book goodness.
One should bear in mind though that this was directed by Sam Raimi of Evil Dead (and Spider-Man) fame, and his brand of horror is thoroughly represented throughout. Madness definitely pushes the limit of violence in a PG-13 film, so parents of younger kids might want to screen it first before letting their 10-year-old come along to see it with them.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was hardly what I was expecting. Yes, it did follow through on almost all of the promises made in the trailers and is a thoroughly enjoyable film in its own right, however, I didn’t realize just how heavy the subject matter would actually be. A day later, and I’m still unpacking everything I saw, and it will most likely take a few days more and another viewing to work through it. I guess you could just go and enjoy it as a popcorn movie, but for those who want to step back and look at the real message of the film, there are some great conversations to be had about grief, mental illness, and the idea of predestination vs free will. Either way, people are going to have fun with it no matter what level they decide to engage the story.