(CONTAINS SPOILERS)
Benedict Cumberbatch returns as Dr. Stephen Strange in Marvel’s “Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness,’ the long-awaited sequel to 2016’s “Dr. Strange.”
Strange is visited by a young woman, America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) and a version of himself, both from another universe, being chased by a demon. Strange’s double dies, but the young woman tells him there is chaos in the multiverse and she is being hunted.
He is not entirely surprised by this, because he has seen her in his dreams, and he (and Marvel audiences) knew of the Multiverse concept from the previous Spider-Man film, in which Strange tampered with time and space to make everyone forget Spider-Man’s identity, thus unleashing the chaos.
America can travel in the Multiverse (with limited control, however) which makes for a great plot device, but it’s not used as much as it could be, with them only travelling to one major alternate universe – one in which Strange has died. Much more could have been done and more fun could have been had with the concept. This is shown by the alternate Earth’s crosswalk lights and alternatives to the Avengers (there called “The Illuminati”) – including a surprise member or two from other franchises.
Instead of more of these fun surprises, though, things turn dark as they both battle Wanda Maximoff, who has become The Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen, reprising the role from Wandavision) whom Strange hoped would team up with them.
She declined, because she has her own reasons to travel into the multiverse and tamper with it. While her reasons are pure, her use of dark magic is ultimately destructive.
Before they go into the other universe, the two have to battle an interdimensional octopus, a demon who is out to get America. An unintentionally funny part of this fight scene is the unnamed Extra shown running past Strange with a briefcase. Due to an editing error, he runs past Strange six or seven times, each time looking back at the monster as papers fall out of his briefcase.
Benedict Wong plays Wong, the Sorcerer Supreme in our universe, whose character plays a pivotal role in the fight later in the film, and Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Karl Mordo, the Sorcerer Supreme in the alternate universe, who may or may not be an ally.
As the plot unfolds, Strange finds a way to confront Maximoff in another alternate universe but does so in a rather gruesome way that has... consequences.
The film has some serious horror elements at times and this may be far too scary for young children.
While there are some missed opportunities here to explore the multiverse in a fun and more complete way (last year's Spider-Man: No Way Home explored the concept better, as did 2018's animated Into The Spiderverse) I'm sure the concept will be explored in future Marvel films, and this is definitely a watchable installment of the MCU. But be warned of its intense horror elements, which will turn off some viewers and is likely too intense for the youngest Marvel fans.
Note that there are two post credit scenes, one at the extreme end of all the credits that is quite funny but not a preview of coming attractions.
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