At this point, there is no doubt that MCU is a force to be reckoned with. The Infinity saga created a massive hype train which was boarded by fans and critics alike, and now all eyes are on its future. The question all of us are asking right now is, can MCU top the Infinity Saga? Well, it seems like it is on the right track considering what awaits us in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The film is all set to release on 6th May 2022 worldwide, but its red carpet premiere took place on 2nd May. Owing to that, Doctor Strange 2 review embargo has now officially lifted on 3rd May and here’s what critics are saying.
Sam Raimi’s Horror Vibe
One thing almost all critics have maintained is that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is the scariest Marvel film yet and the most brutal MCU film. When the highly popular and acclaimed horror director Sam Raimi got the film’s mane, everyone expected it to be scary. It seems like it delivers on this promise as Filmink calls it “the Marvel film most appreciated by stoners, goth kids, horror fans and twitchy weirdos.” Strange Harbors the film feels “complete with genuinely gleeful horror, shockingly brutal violence, and a terrifying surprise villain.” Vanity Fair praised Raimi by saying ” As the film unfolds, Raimi’s hiring proves ever more inspired.” While Times (UK) criticized it by saying, “In terms of Raimi’s back catalogue, it’s more Spider-Man 3 than The Evil Dead.” To sum up this section, in the words of Cleveland Plain Dealer it is “The most inventive, chaotic and scariest film in the 28-movie history of the MCU.”
Great Performances With Elizabeth Olsen as the MVP
Going by the critics, Elizabeth Olsen steals the show in Doctor Strange 2 performance wise, as well as character wise. This comes as no surprise, considering how great an actor she proved to be in WandaVision itself. AwardsWatch pointed out “While Cumberbatch is certainly no slouch, the films runaway MVP is without question Elizabeth Olsen as the grief-stricken Wanda Maximoff.” CineXpress called it more of a WandaVision finale and praised Olsen by saying, “Elizabeth Olsen gives a great performance in what really works as the true WandaVision finale.” MovieWeb also praised the performances stating, “Tremendous lead performances aid a script with gaping plot holes.”
Messy and Weird
Some critics called it messy in a good way while others called it so in a way fans might not like. Looper calls it “A psychedelic mind-flip masterpiece” whereas Chicago Sun Times said, “This is one of the weirder Marvel movies yet.” Starburst called Doctor Strange 2 a “Brisk, messy, and campy genre fare that feels caught between studio-mandated story beats and its director’s love for intimate horror.” The Daily Beast referred to it as “A summertime sequel that proves way too messy and geeky until it manages to double back around again into pleasurable absurdity.”
Viewers Will Be Largely Split
One thing many is abundantly clear from the one too many reviews is that audiences are going to we divided on this one. This basically means some people will like it way too much while others would bash it. While this is the case with every film ever made, a divisive film usually has equal number of fans and critics. New York Post bashed it by saying “The Marvel Cinematic Universe has officially jumped the Stark.” Globe and Mail went a step ahead to referred to it as “126 minutes of loud, smeary nonsense that is Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Associated Press commented that “maybe Phase 4 just hasn’t kicked into gear just yet.” Whereas Empire Magazine called it “Marvel’s most deranged and energetic movie yet” and London Evening Standard also showered some kind words calling it “Sophisticated, beautifully-acted, emotional and very funny.” Combustible Celluloid praised it as well and said that it “is frenetic, zany, ghastly, and absolutely thrilling, a pure, full-on Sam Raimi movie.”
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness stands at 79% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and features a rating of 8.3 on IMDB as of now. Considering how divided the critics are and how divided the fans might be, its IMDB score is bound to fall further. So, all in all, Doctor Strange 2 doesn’t seem like a spectacle we all wanted it to be but it is bound to be as entertaining, action-packed, and colorful as any Marvel film. That aside, it packs some great surprises and some very important cameos which might hint towards the future of Phase 4. So, do let us know what’s your stand on the film upon watching it. Until next time!
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