DOCTOR STRANGE – Review

When we last left the Marvel “movie-verse” (it might be six months on the nose), the alliance of heroes was nearly destroyed in CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR. The rift will take a while to repair, so perhaps some new blood is needed. Time to introduce another iconic character from the Marvel Comics pantheon. This champion against evil  belongs to a special superhero subset, one we’ve not seen in these last few big screen blockbusters. Let’s see, there are the “super-monsters” like the Hulk and the Fantastic Four’s the Thing. And there’s the “super-weaponists” like archers the Green Arrow and Hawkeye. This new movie subject belongs in the realm of the “super-magician”. Their roots go back to Houdini and his rivals who inspired radio’s “Chandu” and “Mandrake” from the newspapers’ comic strip pages. Of course, the comic books jumped on board with Dr. Fate, Ibis, Zatara, and others. It was inevitable that Stan Lee would want his own version for Marvel’s expanding line of heroes (this guy’s only the sixth new Marvel character, dating back to 1963), and so, combined with the storytelling skills of the astounding artist Steve Ditko,  DOCTOR STRANGE arrived in “Strange Tales” issue 110. Now, over 50 years later, this is his feature film debut. And it is one strange trip, man!

After an opening scene of a supernatural theft and murder, the film takes us to an elite New York City hospital where we meet superstar surgeon, Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch). This guy’s so confident (okay, cocky’s the better phrase), he’s playing “Name That Tune” while finishing up a brain operation (I was so hoping that Steve Martin would drop in as Dr. Hfuhruhurr from the 1983 comedy classic THE MAN WITH TWO BRAINS). After a bit of flirty banter with “off again, on again” girlfriend, Dr. Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams), word of a delicate operation about to be botched by the “butcher” Dr. Nick West (Michael Stuhlbarg), diverts them back to the “OR”. Strange then invites Palmer to be his date for a swanky banquet, but she declines. He then pops into his opulent home for a quick change into a tux, then speeds away in his pricey sports car. But a momentary distraction on a rain-soaked mountain road results in a horrific accident. Strange is soon a patient in his own hospital, being wheeled in for emergency surgery. Waking up, hours later he is horrified to see pins and wires in his gifted hands. After another operation, Strange knows his surgery career may be done. His twitching hands can’t hold a shaving razor, let alone a scalpel. But he gets new hope after his rehab therapist tells of a patient who somehow regained the use of his limbs without surgery. Strange finds him, and after much pleading the cured man tells him of a mysterious temple in Nepal. Stephen find the hidden place, and is soon learning the ways of the mystic arts from the main aide of the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor). He devours that magical books cared for by librarian Wong (Benedict Wong). Strange’s new knowledge and skills will be put to use when the temple is attacked by an army of sorcery assassins led by the fanatical Kaecillus (Mads Mikkelsen). The untested Doctor Strange may be mankind’s only hope against an other-dimensional menace.

With this role Cumberbatch should finally achieve a level of screen stardom to match his incredible TV success as the modern-day “Sherlock”. That role and Strange demands an aura of intelligence which the actor definitely projects. Well, that along with a sizable ego. Holmes is confidant ,but not boastful of his skills. Happily Watson is there to temper him. Stephen Strange, in the first act, is arrogant and obnoxious, but pays little heed to Christine when she attempts to pop his balloon. Even after the accident, his self-importance explodes at all, he fights his comeuppance, even more than Tony Stark did. It’s a compliment to Cumberbatch’s talent, that the audience does’nt completely turn on him. These scenes add great heft to Strange’s first encounter with magic. He’s found a new way to direct his considerable brain, as his mind is truly blown (perhaps to make room for his new skills). We see the panic in his eyes when the dark forces surround him, but there’s a spark there as he formulates a plan of defense. Now that Strange knows what he’s capable of, it’ll be interesting to see Cumberbatch in full hero mode in future films.

There’s a terrific chemistry between McAdams and Cumberbatch that’s quite charming in their introductory scenes. She also projects intelligence along with a playful sultry vibe. We want to grab Strange by the shoulders and push him toward her. But McAdams also shows us her pain when he verbally lashes out at her. And her great comic timing shines when she finally meets up with Strange in his full sorcerer trappings. The other female lead, Swinton, also attempts to deal with Stephen’s ego, but her take on the Ancient One will not suffer fools. She ‘s more than a riff on Yoda, she is focused, but not without a sense of humor especially when she sends Strange into the wild unknown. Swinton is teacher and earth (and all dimensions) mother. Ejifor is a tough taskmaster as Mordo, but he’s often more of a teasing big brother to the “newbie”. But there’s a darkness there, that’s barely being kept in check when many of his beliefs are tested. The talented Eijofor conveys this in his body language and speaks volumes with just a quizzical look at his comrades. Benedict Wong as the gruff keeper of the tomes is a formidable warrior while also providing some comic relief as does Stuhlbarg as Strange’s dim rival. And with his silky smooth line delivery, Mikkelsen just oozes evil as the ruthless renegade wizard.

Director Scott Derrickson, after helming the modestly budgeted scare shows SINISTER and DELIVER US FROM EVIL, proves his film making prowess as he works on a much bigger canvas. Though the film is often visually dense with fantastic imagery, he never loses track of the human beings at the center of it all. The hospital opening scenes are just as interesting as the flights of fancy in the final act. More importantly, Derrickson leaves us wanting to spend more time in the doctor’s new world. His script, co-authored with Jon Spaihts and C. Robert Cargill, expertly juggles humor, drama, and lots of  (literally) spellbinding “mumbo jumbo”. The lush cinematography from Ben Davis perfectly sets the mood for each local. Somber, overcast for NYC, and when Strange learns the secrets of magic, the colors pop and burst with energy. And what really sets the mood is the sweeping score from the great Michael Giacchino which conveys the eerie beauty of these new realms using themes that might have felt right at home in a 1960’s Hammer thriller. Big kudos to the special effects teams who give the doctor a playground just as visually engaging as Thor’s Asgard or the Guardians’ galaxy. While the ads have shown off the kaleidoscope like twirling cityscapes (a vertigo variant of INCEPTION), they’ve also captured the organic, psychedelic designs of Ditko’s comic panels. Perhaps the most endearing effect may be the doctor’s “cloak of levitation”, the most charming bit of cloth since Aladdin’s magic carpet. There was a lot of talk that this character’s exploits might be too cerebral for movie audiences used to muscled men and armored avengers destroying city blocks with a swipe, Derrickson and company prove them very wrong with a most engaging entertaining adventure. Oh, try to catch it in 3D if at all possible. So, if the Autumn blues are bringin’ you down, go visit the doctor, DOCTOR STRANGE! Stat!

4.5 Out of 5