The review embargo for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has lifted, and following last night's world premiere, we're finally hearing from critics about the latest Marvel Studios movie. Eternals was their first Rotten blockbuster last November (undeservedly, we should add), and while Spider-Man: No Way Home received rave reviews, that was a co-production with Sony.
So, what are people saying about the Doctor Strange sequel?
We'll start with the trades. Variety says "Cumberbatch's Strange winds up playing addled master of ceremonies to a loopy psychedelic chase movie that never settles down enough to locate its emotional core," but praises Raimi's work on the blockbuster. THR appears to be tired of the Multiverse concept, but acknowledges that while the movie is "never as darkly weird as its title promised, Madness starts to play more to Raimi’s strengths — it’s looser, more kinetic and occasionally goofy despite the big stakes — and to offer some visions that may stick in viewers’ heads."
USA Today wasn't too impressed, concluding by stating, "The script by Michael Waldron visits a lot of places and genres, yet in needing to serve the larger scope of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, lacks a strong narrative center to match the solid performances and scary-movie style." Empire, however, counters that by concluding, "Marvel's most deranged and energetic movie yet, as much of a winning comeback for director Sam Raimi as it is a mega-budget exercise in universal stakes-raising."
Many reviews suggest fans should temper expectations for massive cameos, and that's a point driven home by Bleeding Cool. "For a movie called Multiverse of Madness, there isn't much of the "multiverse" or "madness" to really speak of," they write. "There are different universes, but not nearly as many as you would think." Despite an apparent lack of Variants, Digital Spy weighs in to explain that, "In truth, though, there's not really as much multiverse-hopping as you'd expect, so the movie never feels bloated or overlong. If you're after two hours of spectacle, it won't disappoint and the multiverse setting is exploited to its fullest, visually speaking."
Collider feels that while the "MCU’s interconnected nature was once one of this universe’s strengths, now, it almost suffocates what Raimi is trying to do here," while io9 is quick to point out that despite some flaws in the script, "those Sam Raimi horror touches, and a killer, maybe MCU best, performance from Elizabeth Olsen make the ride well worth taking." IGN, meanwhile, adds that, "it’s got a score that’s to die for, some rockin’ performances, and fans will never once be bored!"
ComicBookMovie.com's Rohan Patel describes Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as the MCU's "darkest and most devastating film yet," but similarly warns that "fans may want to seriously temper their expectations in regards to the much-buzzed-about Illuminati."
So, reviews aren't exactly mixed, but it sounds like the sequel has some story issues and is hampered by world-building that was once a big positive for the MCU. Whether fans will be disappointed by what sounds like a lack of major cameos (no Deadpool or Spider-Man?) remains to be seen, but at least Sam Raimi has been given the chance to deliver Marvel Studios' first horror movie!
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness arrives in theaters on May 6.