Keep it simple stupid. This mantra has been working for Marvel Studio's most recent films, the ones introducing new characters anyway. Like Ant-Man, Doctor Strange tells a clear, straight forward story that is exciting and entertaining with a great cast. For all the "magical" special effects, the secret that makes Strange works is the clear, accessible story and how well it is told. Marvel's Avengers movies (and in that I include Captain America Civil War which is really more of an Avengers movie than just a Captain America movie) may be getting a bit overblown, but the solo movies remain smart and fun by sticking to a winning formula, keeping it simple. There is very little story here. It's basic comic book origin story 101. This isn't reductive, the story may be basic but it's solid and it's compelling. While the narrative aspect may be simple, what is truly spectacular about Doctor Strange is how it looks. Clearly inspired by Inception, Doctor Strange offers a visual cornucopia which makes it worth seeing on a huge screen. Strange is a visual treat.
What Doctor Strange won't do is push your boundaries or buttons. For a film whose story explores the "multi-verse" and multiple realities, the plot, as I pointed out, remains remarkably straight forward and understandable. I had expected it to be a bit more opaque, offering a bit more personal interpretation. Strange doesn't go there, instead choosing to remain easily explicable without nuance. It is a crowd pleaser.
Cumberbatch is, unsurprisingly, strong. He pulls off the arrogant rich white guy without making him a cliche. His chemistry with Tilda Swinton is palpable and fortunately the best parts of the movie are when they are together. I'm not sure his chemistry with love interest Rachel McAdams is as honest. The love story aspect fell flat for me.
Still Doctor Strange is a joy to see and and enough of a refreshing of the Marvel cinematic universe to re-energize that world. The film makers pulled this rabbit out of their hat.
Doctor Strange
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tilda Swinton, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Mads Mikkelsen
Director: Scott Derrickson
Writers: Scott Derrickson, C. Robert Cargill
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