Doctor Strange 2 spoiler-free review: Is Multiverse of Madness good?

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has arrived but does it live up to the hype?

Fresh off its successful return to the forefront of cinematic and television media last year, the Marvel Studios train has rolled on into 2022 looking to make a huge impact. The sorcerer’s return may not be the year’s first title in the Marvel Cinematic Universe library (that honor goes to Disney Plus’ Moon Knight), but Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has a level of hype surrounding it that few films – yes, even Marvel films – do.

If you’ve seen the previous MCU film, Spider-Man: No Way Home, you’ll know that it was one of the rare few that did have that level of hype going into it, and you’ll also know that it was one of the rarer few that actually lived up to it (and exceeded expectations). Multiverse of Madness looks to follow on from that, picking up where the Spidey flick left off, with the promise of more to come from the ever-intimidating multiverse.

Featuring the return of Benedict Cumberbatch as the title character, the Sam Raimi-directed film employs a much darker tone than any of the franchise’s 27 previous installments, in many ways offering a character like Doctor Strange the kind of film he requires. But does the film itself succeed in its attempts to pull away from the norm and gravitate towards the unthinkable? That’s a task much more difficult to pull off.

Is Doctor Strange 2 good?

If you’re going into Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in hopes of finding a thrilling adventure to escape into, you won’t be disappointed. The film lives up to that promise, cracking open the multiverse for Stephen Strange and his fellow heroes as they attempt to save all of the worlds from a threat far greater than anything they have ever experienced.

Stakes are never a problem for Multiverse of Madness because, as referenced above, there are plenty of them throughout. What enhances them is the film’s inherently dark tone, something that lends itself nicely to Sam Raimi’s direction, and it’s really easy to see why this one in particular was the MCU film that Raimi chose to direct because it is, among many things, a horror movie.

Of course, Marvel Studios doesn’t take horror too far but Doctor Strange 2 is undoubtedly the furthest that an MCU movie has gone in terms of violence and threat, instantly setting it apart from its predecessors. It won’t be for everyone, and it will undoubtedly divide people, but we can commend Marvel for trying something different with this one.

The film’s shortcomings include its pacing, as it often switches from long conversations to long battles and back again, resulting in a product that feels a little longer than its respectable 2-hour runtime. But those battles are truly splendid, rich with epic moments and colorful special effects sure to leave longtime Marvel fans feeling very satisfied.

Its story, while solid on paper, does struggle at times, with the character work raising some questions as it’s hard to believe these versions of those characters would make some of the decisions that they do. And that can make it hard for you to fit Multiverse of Madness into the wider MCU, because the truth is that it functions better as a standalone project.

Nevertheless, the cast make it work, with all of the returnees delivering some of their finest work yet, while newcomer Xochitl Gomez is nothing short of fantastic, ensuring that you will all leave the theater a fan of America Chavez.

The film’s biggest star is Elizabeth Olsen, who turns in one of the finest performances of her career as Wanda Maximoff. The Scarlet Witch has never been more larger-than-life than she is in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Olsen shines at every opportunity, delivering a performance that is nothing short of stunning.

All in all, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is an excellent adventure. While not an excellent movie in all aspects, it’s an immersive spectacle that needs to be experienced on the biggest screen you can see it on. And no amount of pacing issues or problematic character journeys can stop Elizabeth Olsen from stealing the show with yet another career-defining performance as Wanda Maximoff.

Grade: B

What did you think of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness? Let us know in the comments below!