Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Dir: Sam Raimi
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor
Rating: 2.5/5

This sequel to “Doctor Strange” appropriates “Avengers: Endgame” and “Spider-Man: No Way Home” action with references, in order to expand the Marvel comic and lend it a multi-dimensional experience. So we see Doctor Strange, with the help of mystical allies, traversing the mind-bending alternate realities of the Multiverse to confront a mysterious new adversary. A major part of that expansionist vision comes from the “WandaVision” show that took the Marvel comic book universe into television.

“Multiverse of Madness” begins in near fascinating fashion wherein we see Strange and a young teenage girl fly through alternate universes. It’s a dream, we think, but the reality is far more complex than we envisage. The sequence opens up tremendous visual art possibilities but none of it is realised in the subsequent portion of the film. Dr Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is then shown attending the wedding of Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams) - the woman he loves but can’t marry, when chaos erupts outside, where a massive octopus-like creature is chasing the teenage girl America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) across dimensions. Strange with his red cape and Wong (Benedict Wong) with his lightning lasso leap into action to save the girl. We then learn that America is being sought for her ability to traverse alternate universes. Strange unsuspectingly seeks the guidance of Super-witch Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen), who, reeling from the loss of her children has come under the spell of the evil Darkhold, a book of evil spells. Chaos reigns thereafter with Strange, Wong, America, Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and a few more characters joining in the melee that ensues thereafter.