Most Marvel fans, including myself, have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” I’d been getting my hopes up for this film ever since “WandaVision” ended and I was yearning for more Wanda content. After a year of waiting, the filmmakers delivered a pretty solid result. 

“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” chronicles the adventures of Doctor Strange, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, as he attempts to protect young teenager America Chavez, played by Xochitl Gomez, from a desperate Scarlet Witch, played by Elizabeth Olsen, who wants to use the teen’s multiverse hopping abilities to get to a version of reality where she can be with her children. 

The story itself feels fragmented. It tries to divide its time between Doctor Strange and the Scarlet Witch. In doing so, not enough time is devoted to either story, especially Doctor Strange’s story, which feels incredibly underdeveloped. His arc in the film about trusting others falls flat since we get hardly any development concerning his relationship with Chavez. Scarlet Witch’s story feels more well-rounded, but I wanted more. This would have made a better Scarlet Witch standalone film.

The acting was great, though this was to be expected with these actors. Benedict Cumberbatch was fun and sarcastic. The real stand out of the film was Elizabeth Olsen. Her grief-stricken rage felt so real and despite her status as the villain of the film, I felt sympathetic toward her. She made for both a creepy villain, especially as Earth-838 Wanda, and a sympathetic fleshed-out character. 

The visuals were fantastic, as expected of Marvel. There were some very fun and dynamic sequences throughout the movie, such as jumping through various universes and a fight involving the literal musical score. I also enjoyed the parts where it felt similar to a horror movie. While it wasn’t necessarily scary, there were some eerie vibes. 

Overall, Multiverse of Madness was a solid movie. Though the writing was shaky at times, the actors and visuals were phenomenal. 

Grade: B (4/5)