If you are expecting an objective review, then I recommend walking away. I am a Cumberbatch fan, often more forgiving of his creative endeavors than others. So, let me begin by acknowledging the obvious – Cumberbatch yet again embodies a hyper-intelligent, narcissistic, apathetic character. He is as in all his previous acting roles, a predictably brilliant protagonist. What’s refreshing is his knack for comic timing. I don’t doubt his talent but maybe play a doofus for a change?
So, what’s Dr. Strange about?
Dr. Strange is an odd movie to review, immensely enjoyable but distinctive from its Marvel counterparts. The flamboyant neurosurgeon Dr. Stephen Strange lives the life of millionaires and have-it-alls callously stepping over the lives, dreams, and hopes of others.
The movie takes off when an automobile accident leaves him severely damaged. For once in his life Strange find he doesn’t pull the strings. In a desperate attempt to regain the strength of his hands, he follows the tales of mystic healing to Kamar-Taj in Nepal.
After the usual dramedy of he-is-stupid-but-still-the-chosen-one, Strange is taken under the tutelage of the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton, who makes this silly character look effortlessly real), and very quickly learns to bend the universe to his will. (In fact, it appears he had probably studied longer to be a neurosurgeon than to be an astral plane traveler.)
Strange graduates just in time to fight the evil sorcerer Kaecillius (Mads Mikkelsen, whose considerable talents seem wasted here), trying to absorb the planet into the Dark Dimension where Dormammu rules in exchange for eternal life.
So, does the movie work?
In realms of fantasy, Dr. Strange pushes boundaries like no other Marvel before. Imagine Inception on steroids. Strange’s first out-of-body experience is exactly that for the audience too. Psychedelic montages take us through the freakishly bizarre journey through the universe. The time-reversal sequences alone are worth the price of the ticket.
The weak thread of the movie is the story. Superhero movies need to latch on to strong moral themes to create empathy for cartoonish, ridiculously clad characters. Dr. Strange is more about one man’s personal journey. The good versus evil storyline is not clearly defined, nor is the universe of the mystical world. The CGI effects often carry the movie away from the core story. Even the ever-brooding Chiwetel Ejiofor cannot provide any gravitas to the flailing storyline.
And the movie makers get it. While entertaining, this movie doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s almost as if everyone realizes how foolish this is and decides to simply have fun. For instance, the Cloak of Levitation, a very powerful weapon for Strange to command, is repeatedly used for comical effects. Or the grand climax, where the supervillain is defeated by getting stuck in a timeless loop. By the time Dr. Strange stands up to Dormammu for the 5th time, I was rolling in my seat with laughter. Movie climaxes are supposed to be awe-inspiring, not nerdy and silly.
In the end, this is what I took away from the movie – Use Bluetooth while driving.
