“Doctor Strange 2” Movie Review: Heavy On The ‘Wanda’, Horror, And Nostalgia Vibes

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The first “Doctor Strange” film we got in 2016 was all about Doctor Strange — learning his magic, fixing his hands, trying to become a surgeon again. It was all very much a story about the Doctor Strange. But this sequel?

It’s giving “WandaVision” spinoff, with horror vibes.

Not that that’s a bad thing.

I just wasn’t expecting Doctor Strange 2, a sequel nonetheless, to teach us more about a character other than the doctor turned sorcerer I’ve learned to love.

Instead of an extension on the previous Doctor Strange story, we got two hours of Wanda acting a fool in the Multiverse of Madness, because she couldn’t get her way. Again.

Clearly she hasn’t learned a damn thing from any of her previous mistakes, that we painfully watched play out in her Disney Plus tv series, “WandaVision”, and now I’m sick of sis!

So yeah, it’s kind of a bad thing.

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go see it!

“Doctor Strange 2” (Multiverse of Madness) Review

Don’t worry, this is a spoiler free review, so even if you haven’t seen “Doctor Strange 2” (Multiverse of Madness) yet, you can keep reading … I won’t spoil the fun.

I wanted to learn more about Doctor Strange …

Strange feels more like a side character in his own film. Which sucks because I went to see him! I wanted to learn more new cool things about HIM!

Not watch Wanda tear houses down, again.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but we saw that story already, no? Why did we need another 2 hours of her throwing a tantrum with magic?

“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” actually starts off with a bang!

The way I expect all Marvel films to begin.

And in the first few minutes, we learn that dreams aren’t necessarily what they seem.

The info we learn about dreams is no doubt cool. Hint: They may, or may not be, connecting us to different universes.

But thanks to “Moon Knight“, fighting “invisible” monsters doesn’t feel like a cool, new, shiny trick anymore.

I am grateful for the creative, but disgusting, use of Strange’s powers at the beginning to stop the creature though.

I think this was one of the few moments in this film that I actually enjoyed.

Yet, even as a single mother, I struggle to connect with this story, that seems to revolve around Wanda’s pain, again.

The first time we saw Wanda act out of grief in “WandaVision”, I got it.

I was rooting for her. Losing your kids, losing the love of your life, it’s hard.

I sympathized with her.

But now?

I don’t get it anymore.

Her tears feel like white women tears, the fake ones they cry after someone catches them doing something wrong, so they won’t have to face the consequences.

Wanda’s anger, is so extreme now, that it no longer feels justifiable.

Even by a mother!

Hell, I wore a Scarlett Witch sweater to the screening, and half way through I wondered whose side I was really on? I was almost embarrassed to have it on.

Sis was doing the absolute most! And I can no longer defend her actions.

At this point, Wanda needs to check herself into therapy, the way alcoholics need to check themselves into rehab. Cause WTF was she doing?! And more importantly, why!

I was so sick of her shit after awhile, that I sure enough thought: “just give her what she wants, this is a lot”.

Like, it’s hard to care about Wanda, who’s the main focus of this story unfortunately, when she continues to cross boundaries. Yes, mothers would kill for their babies, but how many would actually put another’s innocent child in harms way in the process?

It’s also hard to believe that such a powerful witch, who can’t be stopped, would be scared because she’s trapped for a few minutes.

So yeah, the story isn’t the best.

The LGBT inclusion really isn’t much, either.

I know they said a few countries went as far as to ban “Doctor Strange 2” from showing, due to it’s “gay content”.

But what gay content were they worried about? The 10 seconds of screen time America’s moms got? Seriously!? All they did was hug. Literally.

So if you’re thinking this is the moment where Disney finally says gay … think again!

As always, they thread those waters ever so carefully, so they don’t make a big splash, and frankly it’s becoming annoying now.

But at least the ending gets more intense and intriguing, thanks to the horror like elements woven into the story, and the nostalgic cameos.

I wish I could tell you WHO appears closer to the end, but if you haven’t already been spoiled by Marvel’s tv spots, or social media itself, you won’t find spoilers here.

Just know that the group of overaged, white men, at my press screening, who clearly look like they sleep, eat, and breathe Marvel, cheered immensely loud when a few people were shown on screen.

So if you’re a hardcore Marvel fan, be prepared to be excited!

If not, welp … sorry kid, this one’s not for you, but you will recognize a few of the characters, and I guess it’s nice to see they’re still alive?

Speaking of hardcore fans …

“Doctor Strange 2” (Multiverse of Madness) is definitely for hardcore Marvel fans.

Which may partially be why I couldn’t connect?

I mean, I know most of these characters, I just don’t care enough about them to get excited?

Especially when they contribute so little to the actual story!

But if you’re not a hardcore fan, and you haven’t seen all the things before Doctor Strange 2, you may have a hard time enjoying this one. Here’s a list of (almost) everything you need to watch this week so you know beforehand. There are a few other things you need to have seen but that would spoil things.

Anywho … phase 4 isn’t really doing much for me right now, and I’m pretty sure it’s because they all have this one thing in common.

Aside from WandaVision, everything lacks emotions!

Like, I really wish I liked this movie more, but the truth of the matter is, I didn’t.

I miss laughing out loud, screaming at the screen, cheering, and feeling AMAZING when I walk out of the theater, like I’m on cloud 9.

I really do!

But that’s not how I feel watching Doctor Strange 2. It also wasn’t how I felt watching “Spider-Man: No Way Home“.

And as much as I love “Moon Knight“, that doesn’t really have the emotional range I need to fully enjoy it either.

Nothing does this year. So either, I’ve learned too much about film, to now ignore the little things. Or these stories suck so bad, that it’s too hard to ignore the little things.

Either way, I really want it to stop!

With all that said, I still think you should see Doctor Strange 2.

The horror elements are actually what makes this film more interesting.

And don’t worry, if you hate horror like me, this isn’t a full blown horror film, so those scenes aren’t enough to turn you off from watching.

Plus, I really liked …

**minor spoilers below**

• the use of reflections and how they were turned into water
• all of the horror elements, including the horror-ish crawl out of a mirror
• the idea of pizza balls, and that other universes have free food
• the universe jump sequence, and yes the cartoonverse is still the best
• the famous halloween song and how it was used in the film

I don’t hate every single thing about “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”.

And as someone asked on Twitter, it’s definitely better than “Spider-Man: No Way Home“.

I’m just disappointed I didn’t enjoy this film as much as I thought I would.

I was really looking forward to another Doctor Strange movie, and this wasn’t one. This was a Wanda movie, with Strange featured throughout it. So yeah … I’m over this.

But … as always, make sure you stay for the end credit scenes.

There are two, but the last one isn’t as important. So if you need to run out after the first end credit scene, you totally can.