'Doctor Strange' Film Review
'Doctor Strange' tells the story of a former neurosurgeon (Benedict Cumberbatch) who embarks on a journey of healing, only to be drawn into the world of the mystic arts.
Doctor Stephen Strange is an interesting character - one that has not yet been seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Marvel has defined this character well, transposing him from comic book to screen effectively. Doctor Strange is funny, witty, and totally charismatic – much like Cumberbatch himself, bringing an authenticity to the onscreen character. Doctor Strange holds a sarcasm reminiscent of Tony Stark, though it can be argued that Robert Downey Jr. possesses stronger comedic timing, providing a more natural embodiment of his designated character.
Despite the Cumberbatch fandom and quality acting he brings to the film, a strong supporting cast surrounds the eponymous character. There are moments that provide a few chuckles at Christine Palmer's (Rachel McAdams) expense as she represents the audience in this mind-bending world, while other characters regularly poke fun at one another to the audience’s delight. It's a shame that McAdams barely makes an appearance after the first act though; however, this is understandable as there are other elements of the story to focus on.
Further to casting, 'Doctor Strange' underwent a large amount of controversy prior to the film’s release; this was in relation to the whitewashing of Tilda Swinton's character The Ancient One. While a Tibetan actress could have played this role with fervour, Swinton does a fine job. However, there appears no reason why an actress of colour could not have played the part.
The script is decent and the tone of the film is on point, with Marvel balancing drama and humour well. The villains, however, are seriously underwritten. The 'all imposing' figure that Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen) is supposedly serving doesn't appear until the film’s final moments; this means a lack of tension and suspense leading to that integral moment. Kaecilius also lacks character background and development, and his dialogue is limited. It's disappointing, considering that Mikkelsen's fine acting allows him to pull off the truly evil (see the 'Hannibal' series or Bond film 'Casino Royale’). The bad guys are only bad because they're bad, and the narrative structure requires Doctor Strange to face antagonists and complications; this has always been a weaker aspect of the Marvel films - their bad guys aren't quite right.
If you’re looking for a fun film where you know what to expect - especially when compared to rest of the studio's breadth of work - 'Doctor Strange' is for you.
'Doctor Strange' is available on BluRay and DVD in Australia from 28th December 2016.
