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a14 people & arts
Wednesday 4 May 2022
‘Doctor Strange 2’ gets weirder, scarier, messier

By LINDSEY BAHR The script is inventive in the
AP Film Writer way it plays around with
Once a superhero fran- a jumble of big sci-fi con-
chise goes multiverse, it’s cepts, which makes sense
hard to go back. considering screenwriter
No work of fiction ever Michael Waldron is a vet-
needs permission to break eran of “Rick & Morty.” But
the rules or push the bound- it also underwhelms when
aries of traditional storytell- it comes to the mishmash
ing, but the multiverse, at structure and the women.
least as it’s been served Olsen still sells Wanda’s
up in recent Marvel mov- pain like the best of them,
ies, practically demands it. even though she’s been
And for the moment that reduced to a stereotype
means a lot of cameo op- This image released by Marvel Studios shows Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Stephen Strange in a of female hysteria. Chris-
scene from “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.”
portunities. “ Spider-Man: Associated Press tine is merely there to make
No Way Home “ opened Strange realize things about
the door to the concept, Not only that, understand- bell cameo. There are hor- her powers and Strange himself. And America, well,
to mostly charming results, ing, or at least being invest- ror elements, too, some so decides to help, possibly she never really earns our
but now Benedict Cum- ed in “Doctor Strange 2,” intense that families might out of genuine altruism and emotional investment.
berbatch’s master of the also requires some passing think twice before bring- possibly because it was After “Infinity War” and
mystic arts is flying through knowledge of “WandaVi- ing everyone to the multi- a good excuse to literally “Endgame,” “Doctor
the interdimensional portal sion,” the nine-episode plex, some interesting visu- jump off a balcony to get Strange in the Multiverse of
with the concept in “ Doc- Disney+ series that runs al- als not entirely dissimilar to out of his old flame Chris- Madness” feels a little bit like
tor Strange in the Multiverse most six hours total. This is the city-bending of “Incep- tine’s (Rachel McAdams) wheel spinning. Cumber-
of Madness.” not a surprise or a burden tion” and some humor. But wedding early. batch has fun with his char-
This film is technically the to Marvel fans, but it does Raimi doesn’t take “Doctor Unfortunately, he asks the acter, but his limitless ego
sequel to “Doctor Strange,” seem like quite a lot to ask Strange” to an entirely new wrong Avenger for help: seems to have been a little
a movie that came out six of the average moviegoer tonal place, like, say Taika Elizbeth Olsen’s Wanda muted here as he grapples
years ago. But so much (though perhaps at this Waititi did with Thor. He Maximoff is the one after with his own happiness.
has happened in Marvel point they’re one and the mostly sticks to the frame- the power to go multiverse And that invites more ques-
land that involves Stephen same). work established by Scott jumping and has been tions, like do we ultimately
Strange and his goatee — So it’s especially interesting Derrickson. dabbling in some dark arts care about whether or not
“Infinity War,” “Endgame” that Sam Raimi agreed to The main issue is that it’s a to make it happen. She’s Doctor Strange is happy?
and, yes, the most re- jump into this messy cor- bit of a kitchen sink movie motivated by the idea that Does he? Could everyone
cent “Spider-Man” — that porate multiverse at this centered on an entirely she has children out there just use some post blip ther-
where it falls in the “Doctor point. His “Spider-Man” new and underdevel- in an idyllic suburban mul- apy instead of these interdi-
Strange” standalone film movies are still among the oped character, America tiverse in which she wears mensional bottle episodes?
continuity is entirely be- top of the crop of modern Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), yoga pants and loose cot- Perhaps the Marvel uni-
side the point. One could superhero franchises, after a teen who has the power ton tops and tucks her boys verse is finally starting to feel
not simply watch “Doctor all. Raimi was able to put to travel the multiverse but in at night after ice cream like a long running comic
Strange” and then “Doctor his own stamp on this en- doesn’t quite know how to and movies. Soon she book series. Or maybe
Strange 2” and expect it to deavor, including but not control it. She’s being hunt- and Strange are having a Phase 4 just hasn’t kicked
make sense. limited to a Bruce Camp- ed by someone who wants standoff in midair. into gear just yet.q

Bill Murray says his behavior led to

complaint, film’s pause

cident as a “difference of other.” He didn’t say when an education for me,” he
opinion” but declined to or if production would re- said. “The world is differ-
provide specifics on what sume and whether he’d ent than it was when I was
transpired, or who it in- continue to take part in a little kid. What I always
volved. the film. “We’re both pro- thought was funny as a
“I did something I thought fessionals,” Murray said of little kid isn’t necessarily
was funny and it wasn’t the woman. “We like each the same as what’s funny
taken that way,” he told other’s work. We like each now. Things change and
CNBC during an interview other I think and if you the times change so it’s
at the annual shareholders can’t really get along and important for me to figure
Bill Murray speaks at the Governors Awards on Friday, March meeting for Berkshire Ha- trust each other, there’s it out.” Murray added: “I
25, 2022, at the Dolby Ballroom in Los Angeles. Bill Murray thaway. “The movie stu- no point in going further think it’s a sad dog that
speaks at the Governors Awards on Friday, March 25, 2022, at dio wanted to do the right working together or mak- can’t learn anymore. I
the Dolby Ballroom in Los Angeles. thing so they wanted to ing a movie as well.” don’t want to be that sad
Associated Press
check it all out, investigate The 71-year-old “Ghost- dog and I have no inten-
By PHILIP MARCELO and the suspension of film- it and so they stopped the busters” and “Cad- tion of it.”
Associated Press ing on his latest movie. production.” dyshack” comedian sug- Searchlight Pictures has
Bill Murray on Saturday The actor and comedian, Murray said he and the un- gested the changing na- confirmed production was
acknowledged that his in his first comments about named woman are talk- ture of what’s considered suspended but has so far
behavior on set led to a the shutdown of “Being ing it through and “trying appropriate humor was declined to elaborate, cit-
complaint from a woman Mortal,” described the in- to make peace with each a factor. “It’s been quite ing the ongoing inquiry. q