Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

The second solo adventure for the MCU's Master of Mystic Arts spins out of the cataclysmic events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, in which Benedict Cumberbatch's spell-caster inadvertently shattered the Multiverse. The film opens in exhilarating style with the inter-dimensional pursuit of teenager America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), whose multiverse-hopping abilities come to the attention of the good doctor when a tentacled beast (think Lovecraft meets Mike from Monsters, Inc) runs amok on the streets of New York. No sooner has Strange sought help from Wong (Benedict Wong) and fellow Avenger Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) than he and Chavez are plunged into a psychedelic trip through alternative universes. All the ingredients of a tale to astonish then unfold - fearsome fights, jaw-dropping cameos and big revelations - while director Sam Raimi's penchant for mind-bending visuals and macabre fun is given free, fantastical rein. However, the film does require viewers to be familiar with certain Disney+ streaming series, WandaVision in particular, and the drive to pack in future plotlines sometimes overwhelms the story. The obligatory post-credits scene will leave you with a gasp and a smile, though.