<Review by: Sailesh Ghelani>

Directed by Sam Raimi. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Wong, Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Xochitl Gomez

We’ve reached a point in the Marvel ‘Cinematic Universe’ where anything goes really and a good story or character motivation doesn’t matter in the least.

Dr Strange isn’t one of the most popular Marvel super heroes so he probably has to work harder to bring in the cheering fans. But then, anything Marvel usually sells like hot cakes since it becomes an event film with lots of great CGI and usually a fun cameo by a fan favourite.

Dr Strange and Wong

There’s only one great cameo by a fan favourite, beloved by many as a character and an actor. And there’s plenty of awesome CGI. But there’s nothing much else. Spider-Man: No Way Home did the Multiverse much better because it had emotion, nostalgia and a relevant, relatable story. This film however, is just about Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) turning into Scarlet Witch courtesy of the Darkhold book to steal the powers of a mutant called America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) who can jump universes but hasn’t learned how to control it yet. The reason for Wanda becoming a Witch is that in another universe – she has dreamt about – she (or the other Wanda) has two sons. So she’ll go there, kill off that Wanda and become their mommy. That’s just why she ends up being the cause of trillions of deaths. I’m like, could she not just find a guy in her universe and have kids? Am I missing something here?

And so they run from her. But if she can destroy super heroes then what is stopping her from just summoning America to her place and taking her powers? Does she need to run after her to catch her? She can destroy a whole planet but can’t beam the girl in to a cage? Seem pretty stupid to me. Dr Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) must act as her chaperone and security guard, fending off other other ‘hims’ and nasty super heroes in other universes. Wanda makes mince meat out of most of the alternative universe super heroes, which I assume means Marvel is fine never having to bring those characters back for movies of their own (sorry Mr Fantastic!).

America, Wong and Dr Strange

A boy sitting next to me was trying really hard to explain to his mother the events and backstory. She ended up checking her phone and sleeping as he told her ‘mom, watch the movie!’ If you’re not someone who has watched many Marvel films you’d be lost and bored. I think Marvel is too. Their last end credits scene was basically giving the finger to all the people who stayed till the end. I think they themselves don’t know what to put for those two end credit scenes anymore. Maybe we should all stop waiting and let the cleaning staff in on time to do their jobs.

You don’t even need to watch this film for any form of continuity with other future films, except maybe if they make one for America Chavez who will become Miss America (and don’t think we didn’t get the America metaphor there).

I miss X-Men films, can we have some of those undiluted by the Marvel ‘Cinematic Universe’?

Watch the trailer: