Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness
PREVIEW CERT 12A,
126 minutes, in cinemas 5 May
STARRING:
Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez
DIRECTOR:
Sam Raimi
THE PLOT: Having opened the door to the multiverse in SpiderMan: No Way Home, neurosurgeon-turnedsorcerer Dr Stephen Strange (Cumberbatch) finds himself once again tangling with parallel worlds. Teenager America Chavez (Gomez) arrives from an alternative universe, chased by mysterious creatures intent on siphoning off her power. Strange and Chavez seek help from Wanda Maximoff (Olsen), and are then propelled through different worlds where they meet variants of characters including Strange’s old flame Christine Palmer (Rachel Mcadams), and of themselves. WHAT’S RIGHT/ WRONG WITH IT?
Following the departure of original director Scott Derrickson (who directed the first Doctor Strange film), this sequel acquired a new talent at the helm: Sam Raimi, known for the three Tobey Maguire Spider-man films and horror classics such as The Evil Dead. Raimi teases that he is incorporating elements of horror – such as jump-scares and zombies – into the Doctor Strange world, an intriguing prospect that promises that this latest Marvel film will be tonally different. Cumberbatch calls the film “quite a journey”, adding, “It’s going to be a trip through all the complexity and wonder and horror of the multiverse.”
VERDICT: With the first weekend of May traditionally providing the launch of summer blockbuster movie season, Marvel – not for the first time – has landed bragging rights to the plum slot in the calendar. Following hot on the heels of No Way Home, this one should be mega.