[6]

Benedict Cumberbatch stars as a celebrated surgeon who loses the use of his hands in a car accident and then pursues Eastern mysticism which, of course, leads to superpowers and magic and shit. Doctor Strange is another rote effort from Marvel Studios, a company doing far better making the same movie over and over again than any company I can remember, and that includes Eon’s several dozen James Bond films and Paramount’s ever-growing Friday the 13th franchise. The cast and the locations change, but the villains are always generic, the aesthetic potential squandered, and the ultimate goal continues to be not to make a great film, but to start marketing the next film. In a way Marvel movies are like television — people watch episode to episode on the promise of something great to come. But how long will audiences hold their breath and keep consuming mediocrity?

Cumberbatch is mildly charismatic here, making Doctor Strange quite a lot more bearable than, say, a Thor movie. Many people seem to be dazzled by the Inception-like special effects. I had no problem going to the bathroom or looking at the speakers on the theater walls during the effects sequences — they truly mean absolutely nothing to me in these movies.

What else can I say? I don’t even know how to review these movies anymore. One review pretty much fits all. They’re all watchable films. They sparkle and shine, they usually have a handful of funny one-liners, and they occasionally give a real actor something to do. But only occasionally.

So that’s it. I’m bored of writing this review. I suppose all that matters is this: If you love Marvel movies, you’ll love this one. If you don’t care for them, this one’s not going to make you give them a second look.

With Tilda Swinton, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Rachel McAdams. Directed by Scott Derrickson.

Oscar Nomination: Best Visual Effects