Marvel releases new trailer for "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" 0:59
(CNN) —
"Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" could be the craziest Marvel movie ever, for better or worse.
Unleashing the endless possibilities of the multiverse opens up the studio's toy chest, but its no-holds-barred aspects can be exciting, disorienting, and even a little silly at the same time.
All told, this sequel is highly entertaining, though not entirely worthy of the pent-up demand.
It's hard to believe that this is the first genuine "Doctor Strange" sequel, six years later, as Benedict Cumberbatch has meanwhile played the sorcerer multiple times, from The Avengers to Thor and, most recently, "Spider-Man: No Way Home." .
Directed by Sam Raimi, who has his link to Spidey, the film traces its roots back to Strange's journey from the original, as well as the Avengers' two-act battle against Thanos.
"I made the only play we had," says Strange to explain the costs of the hiatus that left people in the dark for five years.
the marvel multiverse
However, the most relevant last hurdles in terms of storytelling actually come from Disney+, a sign of just how vast and interconnected the Marvel Cinematic Universe has become.
Obviously, it includes "WandaVision", which introduces the character arc of Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and her conversion into the Scarlet Witch, which plays a fundamental role here;
but also "Loki," which offers its own dizzying exploration of parallel realities, created by the film's screenwriter, Michael Waldron.
The film features a key addition in the form of a teenage girl (Xochitl Gomez of "The Baby-Sitters Club") with the ability to open doors to the multiverse.
That power sends Strange on a frantic race to save not only our universe but others as well.
What Marvel movies and series should you watch before "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness"
At its peak, "Multiverse of Madness" bursts with psychedelic energy.
It can be dark and demanding, but it still playfully explores quadrants of Marvel mythology designed to make fans scream and scream.
One sequence in particular is well worth the price of admission to see in the theater, in a dazzling demonstration of the tools at the studio's disposal.
advertising
On the flip side, there's an unavoidable entanglement in the whole universe hopping concept, in a way that seems to be making up rules on the fly, too cute to look good.
Of course, the narrative moves at such a fast pace that it's easy to get carried away, but moviegoers don't need to apologize if they feel lost in some passages.
Rachel McAdams, Benedict Cumberbatch and Xochitl Gomez in Marvel's 'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness'.
visually stunning
Technically, Raimi delivers a visually stunning exercise, heightened by composer Danny Elfman's spectacular score (which, at one point, weaves artfully into the action).
Nor should it be overlooked what performers of the caliber of Cumberbatch and Olsen bring to the leads in wit and humanity, sustaining all that costly chaos in vulnerability and emotion.
"Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness"
is among the best Marvel pre-sales
In practical terms, the craving for another authentic Marvel cinematic experience comes with enormous hype and the expectations to match.
Yes, the studio has released other movies before, but with two original stories in its recent titles, this feels like akin to "Avengers: Endgame" since it hit theaters three years ago, before the pandemic shut them down.
Overall, "Doctor Strange" proves up to that formidable challenge.
However, it is possible to enjoy the film and still end up somewhat frustrated by so much multiverse, feeling guilty for having sometimes put too much method into his "Madness".
"Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" opens in US theaters on May 6. It is rated PG-13.
Doctor StrangeMovie premieresMarvel Movies