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When Marvel began producing its Avengers films more than a decade ago, they started with pretty standard superhero films—big, explosive movies about good guys using their superhuman powers to battle bad guys. But there have been subtle changes through the years—and this summer’s first big Marvel release, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness makes those changes very clear.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness finds mystical hero Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) fighting his way through the multiverse. After he saves a young girl named America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) from a gigantic beast, he learns that she has the ability to travel through the multiverse—an ability that a powerful being clearly wants. To keep America safe, Dr. Strange travels with her to alternate universes in search of answers, only to find that he may have put his own universe in danger in the process.
As Dr. Strange travels from one universe to the next, meeting alternate versions of himself, the film does more than just battle the same old bad guys. In trying to save America, he’s forced to come to terms with his strengths, his weaknesses, and the sacrifices he’s made through the years.
Of course, the idea of a conflicted hero is nothing new for this franchise; so many other Avengers have questioned their place—their role in saving the planet and what it’s cost them. But Dr. Strange stands out from his Avengers associates. From his first film in 2016, it was clear that he was different. There was something more spiritual and cerebral and superior about him. He seemed to be above his work as an Avenger. And in his latest outing, director Sam Raimi takes this hero to a completely new level.
Though the film’s initial battle seems very superhero-like, it soon spirals into a movie that only the guy behind the Evil Dead films could make. This isn’t just about a hero battling bad guys; it’s a hero traveling through creative universes to battle a powerful being—and taking on the undead in the process. It’s darker, eerier, and more terrifying than the typical Avengers movie. And while that may sometimes make it feel separated from the rest of the superhero franchise, this stand-out film is also a whole lot of fun for Raimi’s fans.
As the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to grow and expand through movies and Disney+ series, all but the most diehard fans may find it hard to keep up with the characters and their stories. Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness is definitely tied into the web of superhero stories—and if you haven’t been keeping up, you might feel lost from time to time. But if you’re ready for something that stands out from the same old superhero film, Raimi’s style and horror movie touches make for a wildly distinctive addition to the franchise.
Marvel’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness arrives in theaters on May 6, 2022.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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