Susan Granger’s review of “Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” (Marvel Studios/Disney)
Marvel Studios/Disney’s comic-book franchise dominates the box-office again with “Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness,” which is preceded in theaters with the first teaser trailer for James Cameron’s highly-anticipated sequel “Avatar: The Way of Water.”
This new horror/ fantasy/sci-fi adventure begins where “Spider-Man: No Way Home” left off – with Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) coming to the assistance of a plucky teenager, America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), who can open portals across various universes.
Chavez’s ‘origin story’ – shown in flashback – has her inadvertently catapulting her two lesbian mothers into another dimension when, as a child, she becomes frightened. But – now – a demonic force, controlled by Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen from “WandaVision”), is trying to steal her portal-making powers so she can reunite with her twin sons in an alternate universe.
Strange tells Chavez: “In the grand calculus of the multiverse, your sacrifice is worth more than your life.”
So our quirky superhero must enlist the aid of a former sidekick who has now transformed into the Sorcerer Supreme (Benedict Wong) which leads to an encounter with his old comrade-turned-enemy Karl Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor), both members of a secret society called the Illuminati.
Then there’s Dr. Strange’s old flame, Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams), who tells him that he’s now on Earth-838. Plus other ‘surprise’ MCU cameos.
The title riffs on the H.P. Lovecraft novel “At the Mountains of Madness,” while continuing Stan Lee’s penchant for alliterative names (i.e.: Stephen Strange, Peter Parker, Bruce Banner, Susan Storm, etc.).
Somewhat incoherently scripted by Michael Waldron with swarming storylines and multiple identities, it’s directed by Sam Raimi (“Spider-Man”), who relies too much on jump scares and gruesome, violent CGI, tossing in zombies, impalement, ogre henchmen and a bizarre bird whose body is comprised of corpses.
On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” is a slogging, albeit scary 6, particularly when Dr. Strange concludes: “There might be another, other, other me.”
