Sam Raimi enters the Marvel Universe, with Micheal Waldron’s penned latest outing for Doctor Strange. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is still wrestling with the problems of the multiverse and while at the wedding of Christine (Rachel McAdams) he finds himself saving the life of a girl, America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez). But she isn’t any girl, she is one he has dreamt about. When he discovers she has moved through the multiverse, he knows he needs specialist help and seeks it in the form of Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen). But that visit opens a battle Strange did not expect.
The film certainly delivers on its titular madness as it romps through the multiverse, meeting a range of characters, some familiar, some crowd pleasing cameos. The potential for this to have been a disjointed mess would seem pretty high. But Marvel’s masterstroke was to put it in the hands of Sam Rami.
What he does is take a relatively predictable script and have real fun, pulling from his back catalogue and no doubt favourite films to bring something fresh to the MCU. Being Rami he of course uses plenty of horror inflections, especially as Strange and Chavez are chased though the different universe’s. Importantly though he also has that light comedic touch. That levity is something that Marvel judges well and is right up Raimi’s street.
It is these things that makes this an entertaining adventure and one that delivers something a little different from the usual MCU fair.
There are a couple of issues. Firstly it does lean on some of Marvel’s non cinema properties, Wandavision particularly, which, while not essential helps apply context. Secondly is Wanda herself, a complex character, who while at the centre of this story, remains rather one dimensional.
Multiverse of Madness, while having a relatively basic story, in the hands of Sam Rami is something fresh and fun. His horror-humour background shines through and brings a great mix of dark tension and light madness. Making it an enjoyable multiverse adventure.
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