MICHAEL LOMAX: ‘Dr. Strange’ a superhero who doesn’t disappoint
FILM REVIEW: Latest Marvel blockbuster is entertaining throughout
By Michael Lomax
After seeing the trailer for “Doctor Strange,” I got very excited for what was promised: a mind-bending story, incredible visual effects, and A-list performances. In other words, the film looked like everything we’ve come to expect and love from Marvel Studios.
And “Strange” didn’t disappoint.
Benedict Cumberbatch plays hotshot neurosurgeon Stephen Strange, whose incredible medical talents are largely undermined by his overwhelming ego. He drives fast and lives fast, but after surviving a devastating high-speed car accident, Strange is unable to perform the complicated surgeries for which he was once famous.
Quickly discouraged by the limits of physical therapy, Strange embarks on a spiritual journey to the other side of the world to seek alternative treatment. What he finds instead is an order of ancient sorcerers whose magic can do a lot more than heal broken hands.
Like all Marvel films, there’s plenty of backstory in the “Doctor Strange” comics that has to be covered quickly in a short amount of time. While this normally means glossing over a lot of information, “Strange” succeeds in giving you exactly what you want.
But that doesn’t mean you always get what you need.
Since there is so much to push through, “Strange” often fails to spend enough time on the explanations and the logic behind the story world. Put another way, the film assumes that you’ll just accept what they have to say. But if you really start to question things, “Strange” quickly starts to unravel.
As a result, just like “Captain America,” “Thor,” “Iron Man” and any other work from Marvel, you have to accept that this film isn’t as deep as you think it is, but it sure is entertaining and a fun ride from beginning to end.
So I guess in many ways, “Doctor Strange” is a perfect example of what we love in our superhero movies today. The effects are honestly inspiring, and the screenplay is written with enough wit to fill a standup set.
Sure, you might not walk out of the theater with profound new revelations on your life, but you will be happy and entertained, which is the point of all these movies anyway, right?
Michael Lomax is a writer-filmmaker currently at work on a film script to be set and shot in Albany.
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