DOCTOR STRANGE ■ It’s kind of magic
The original IRON MAN movie tells the story of an arrogant rich guy who takes those closest to him for granted before he has humbling perspective forced upon him. He soon meets an unlikely mentor in an unexpected place, then has to rebuild himself and the way he sees the world, before ultimately squaring off against a poorly developed villain. That also happens to be exactly how DOCTOR STRANGE plays out. Instead of tech-loving Tony Stark., though, DOCTOR STRANGE has Benedict Cumberbatch in the titular role as a gifted surgeon with a perfect record who’s forced to reappraise his life after a horrific accident leaves him unable to perform his old job.
Despite the doctor mantle, desperate Strange turns to mysticism in search of a cure for an ailment that’s seemingly impossible to fix with modern medicine. Sure, it plays it safe, and falls into the typical Marvel Cinematic Universe trap of throwing in underdeveloped villains. In this instance, that’s particularly disappointing given the talent behind the villainous warlock Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen). Love interest Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams) suffers from a similar mishandling, while Cumberbatch’s American accent is surprisingly patchy for an actor so gifted at mimicry.
Yet DOCTOR STRANGE manages to rise above being a mere magical spin on IRON MAN by achieving the unthinkable in the superhero genre: presenting something completely unique. While it’s easy to see director Scott Derrickson (SINISTER) has drawn visual influences from action powerhouses like THE MATRIX and INCEPTION, he’s taken it to a whole other level. The surprisingly accessible handling of different dimensions and M.C. Escher-like action sequences should be seen on the big screen to be believed. Despite the heavy use of CG, Derrickson still manages to achieve a grounded look that helps keep the action believable, despite the property’s reliance on magic. Because of this, DOCTOR STRANGE is absolutely worth the price of admission. Catch it in 3D if you can.
