Strange and Stranger

We got Disney+ to watch the Marvel TV shows, but we’re pretty psyched to realize that it meant we could watch Sam Raimi’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022).

It starts with the good Doctor and a young woman (Xochitl Gomez) in the madness dimension, a realm of floating mountains - very Ditko. They are being chased by a demon, and Strange is about to steal Gomez’s power to get the book of Vishanti when he gets killed. Gomez somehow creates a portal to another universe, and drops onto our Dr. Strange’s rooftop, along with the other Strange’s corpse. 

Turns out that she is America Chavez, who can move between universes, although she can’t control it. That’s why she’s being chased. Strange figures there is witchcraft at work as well as magic, so he goes to consult with Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen). She has retreated to an orchard to heal after the events of her TV series. See, I knew watching that would pay off. But she soon reveals that she is behind this whole setup. She wants to travel to a universe where her two sons are real.

So Strange and America chase her and are chased by her throughout the multiverse. This includes some split-second scenes of universes of bones, or animated universes, etc. it also includes universes that were de-stabilized by “incursions”, visits by Wanda or others that destroyed logic and physics. In one, it was their Strange that did it. That universe is protected by the Illuminati, lead by Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor). (I like Ejiofor in the role, but I think he should be a Baron, and wear that pointy beard.) This group includes Agent Carter, Mr Fantastic, Maria Rambeau, and Black Bolt. I think these are mostly throw-always, not setups for future movies.

Since this is Sam Raimi, there’s a touch more horror - but not much really, until the end (I’ll just say “zombie”). There’s a lot more about making the right choices for the right reasons, and making sure you don’t become the villain. But it’s stuffed with other stuff as well, including Wong being awesome, multiple evil Stranges, his old flame Rachel MacAdams. Also, since it’s Raimi, Bruce Campbell. Strange puts a spell on him to make him punch himself over and over. He does love beating up poor Bruce.

In conclusion, this is a visual tour de force - something all the Dr. Strange movies do so well. Best Marvel movie yet!