The Mosley Review: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Now this is a very unique quandary this film has found itself in. Generally when it comes to the main line MCU films, there is a sense of bridge building across the franchise while also delivering a singular story. I love whimsical storytelling as much as the next guy, but there needs to be a balancing act between story and impressive visuals. The world that the titular character lives in is constantly being tested with creatures and foes from different realms and universes, but that shouldn't be the main draw. There was a major tonal shift for the type of film Marvel is used to delivering and I loved that the most. The fact that we got a horror themed funhouse of a film was great, but I felt it could've gone just a little further in the scare factor. The director is known for his amazing and stylized work in the horror genre and it fits so well in this film. Where I have a problem is that his style and the assignment of a Marvel film were clashing with each other toward the second half of the film. It was distracting and sometimes threw the pacing off. What was fascinating is that we have 2 major character stories where one is a payoff to a previous story and the other is questioning their happiness level and yet it all somehow connects thematically.

Benedict Cumberbatch returns as Dr. Stephen Strange and he does a great job as to be expected. I liked where he took Stephen this time and how his actions all the way back in Infinity War are still a point of reference and somewhat guilt. What I really loved is that Benedict truly highlights his ego and how destructive it has been to his life even as an Avenger. Rachel McAdams returns as Christine Palmer and I loved that she had so much more to do in this film. What I really liked is that she wasn't the token love interest anymore, but their’s a decision that is made with her character that I didn't agree with. Benedict Wong was great yet again as the now Sorcerer Supreme Wong and man does he get put through the ringer in so many ways. He was still charming, funny and steadfast as a natural leader. Chiwetel Ejiofor returns as Karl Mordo and he was just as engaging and fun as before. I like that even in a different universe, he still has trust issues with Stephen. Xochitl Gomez was decent as America Chavez when she wasn't running and screaming her head off. She quickly became the weakest link of the film acting wise, but she did okay as you can tell the talent around her really helped lift her performance. Elizabeth Olsen was amazing yet again as Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch. Her pain carries over from "WandaVision" and man does that story get an emotional payoff. She really nails the supernatural and horror centric visuals of the film with her amazing hexes and use of dark magic. I've always wanted to see an Avenger go bad and she delivers in everyway. There are 4 or more major cameos in this film, but I won't spoil them no matter how fantastic they may be.

The score by Danny Elfman was wild and awesome in so many ways. He leans into the emotional depth of Wanda in many suites, but damn does he nail the classical horror tone in the darkest moments of the film. Its a bombastic cacophony of sound yet gothic in tone and I loved the usage of guitar in more of the trippy visuals. “Lethal Symphonies” was my favorite piece. Visually this film does not disappoint as we are treated to a menagerie of different worlds both stunning and nightmarish. This is a Sam Raimi directed film so you get his style of crazy zooms, violent and disturbing imagery and it all was fun to see, but it felt stifled. Sam had to play within the boundaries of the MCU while still delivering his creative vision, but I felt the tug of war between him and the studio guidelines. He may have pushed the limits of what could be done and I loved that this was the first violent horror film of the MCU, but it was sometimes working against the storytelling. I felt if you stripped away the building blocks of the MCU future and focused the morality and grief tale of the story, this would've been a stronger film instead of inconsistent. Overall I liked the film, but it felt like the foreman arguing with the contractor on how a wing of the homeowner’s mansion should be built. Do sick around for the 2 end credits. My favorite is the second one. Let me know what you thought of the film or my review in the comments below. Thanks for reading!