Marvel's 'Doctor Strange 2' Global Review: 'Vaguely Disappointing'

The latest Marvel juggernaut has raked in a plump box office bounty, but the review reception for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness hasn't been entirely warm. A major criticism: Wanda Maximoff's (Elizabeth Olsen) storyline, her villain part seemingly undoing her painful journey to redemption in Disney Plus series WandaVision.

Still, the Doctor Strange sequel brings a fresh voice to the Marvel palette in notable horror director Sam Raimi. His gory gags and stylistic panache are welcome shades to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Painfully forced'

Into the Multiverse of Madness definitely made me a little mad -- and not in a good way. Wanda's Distraught Mom storyline felt painfully forced -- it was clear right from the outset she would never be able to steal another Wanda's kids. Then there's the multiverse aspect. After having its trailer tacked on at the end of No Way Home's credits, this movie seemed like it would well and truly blow open the multiverse. Instead, Jamie Lee Curtis is right: Everything Everywhere All At Once is a far more fulfilling multiverse movie exploring infinite possibilities, not just about three universes.

All that being said, I loved Sam Raimi's horror touches.