The latest addition to the franchise juggernaut that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe sees Benedict Cumberbatch take on the role of Strange, a brilliant and arrogant neurosurgeon who loses effective use of his hands in a car crash and eventually finds new purpose as a practitioner of magic after travelling, in Batman origin fashion, to Nepal to be reborn. The origin story is both a necessary chore and yet also a blessing, as when handled well, such as here, it allows some degree of calm and actual distinctive plot before the inevitable CGI mayhem once things have been set up. Admittedly, the reality-blending CGI, in a sort of
Inception with ADHD and on steroids fashion, is very impressive, but there's far too much of it to take in properly and far more than the drama of the story requires, even if extra-dimensional menaces are involved. Still, Cumberbatch takes to the role like a duck to water and is ably supported by a distinctly non-American cast, provided you're prepared to make allowance for the fact that none of them is actually remotely Nepalese,
quelle surprise.
It passes by divertingly and wittily enough, but I don't see much mileage left in the character after his ludicrously rapid ascension to top dog status in the mystical realm, a fact which is obviously of no concern at all to the commercial powers that be.
5/10
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