Film Review: "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" (2022).

"Enter a new dimension of Strange" with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. This superhero film directed by Sam Raimi, written by Michael Waldron, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, and produced by Marvel Studios. It is the sequel to Doctor Strange (2016) and the 28th film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Doctor Strange journeys into the unknown, who, with the help of mystical allies both old and new, traverses the mind-bending and dangerous alternate realities of the Multiverse to confront a mysterious new adversary.

By December 2018, after the release of Doctor Strange, Derrickson was confirmed to direct the sequel. In July 2019, at San Diego Comic-Con, Feige and Derrickson officially announced the sequel, revealing the title to be Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and its May 7, 2021 release date. In October 2019, Jade Halley Bartlett was hired to pen the sequel. However, in January 2020, Marvel Studios and Derrickson announced that he would no longer direct the film due to creative differences. By early February, Raimi was hired to replace Derrickson and Waldron was hired to rewrite the film's script. In late March, pre-production work was taking place remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with filming still on track to begin in May 2020. However, in early April, Disney shifted much of their Phase Four slate of films due to the pandemic, moving the film's release date to November 5, 2021. It was shifted again to March 25, 2022. In early October, it was confirmed that pre-production work had continued and revealed that filming would start in London, England by the end of the month or in early November. Although a national lockdown in England was announced from November 5 to December 2 due to increased COVID-19 cases, film shoots were not impacted. By November, Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Rachel McAdams would reprise their roles with Xochitl Gomez cast as a newcomer. At the same time, principal photography commenced, under the working title Stellar Vortex, and took place throughout Norway, England, Iceland, Italy, as well as New York and Vancouver. Increased restrictions were implemented near the end of December and another lockdown in England was announced in early January 2021. Filming resumed by mid-March. The production did not suffer any COVID-19-related setbacks when filming resumed in early 2021, though Cumberbatch had to pause filming temporarily after being in close contact with a member of the production who had a false positive test. In October, the film's release date was once again delayed to May 6, 2022.

Most of the cast, with the exception of Olsen, seem to be zigzagging in confusing fashion from good to lukewarm and back again.

Despite its shortcomings, the film still manages to do enough to get by, even if it's apparent the Marvel Studios formula is starting to feel rusty and in need of a serious reinvention.

Simon says Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness receives:

Also, see my reviews for Ash vs Evil Dead and Spider-Man: No Way Home.