Five months after the release of “Spiderman: No Way Home,” fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) were anticipating the release of another franchise film, and the expectation was that it would be a groundbreaking production, along with some unprecedented visual effects. What MCU fans got in return was nothing short of a disappointment. 

“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” was released in theaters Friday, May 6, and it certainly attracted a large audience. But unlike the average Marvel film, it was a complete and utter disaster. The film takes place almost immediately after the events that transpired in “Spiderman: No Way Home,” but it still lacks a connection to the films prior to it. Even when there are references that are made during the movie, they require the most avid Marvel fan to understand them.

Up until a couple years ago, it would not have been much of a problem to keep up with the MCU. However, with the introduction of streaming services, things have gotten a little more complicated. Now, for the price of approximately eight dollars per month, Marvel fans can keep up with an overdone storyline with spin-offs such as “Falcon and the Winter Soldier” and “WandaVision” on Disney+. The conflict that this creates is that it becomes difficult for viewers to stay up to date with the MCU if they do not have a Disney+ subscription. As a result, many people go into Marvel movies with a poor understanding of key characters’ backstory or origin.

“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” is certainly no exception to this. The “Doctor Strange” sequel revolves around Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and their quest through several parallel universes. But while the movie does a good job of portraying Doctor Strange, the film lacks a comprehensible image of Wanda Maximoff. Oftentimes, the film goes into tangents about Wanda and her past, but these references are only understood by those who have seen “WandaVision.” 

While the special effects and action might have been enough to persuade some viewers into a good rating, one can not overlook how choppy and poorly assembled the plot and script was. Director Sam Raimi has had prior experiences with making superhero movies, such as the Tobey Maguire “Spider-Man” trilogy, but most people walking out of the theater would think that this was a first-time director trying way too hard to make an impact in the superhero genre. The entire script was filled with corny jokes and overdone references that swayed away from the authenticity of the movie. At times, the movie felt more like a comedy flop than an action blockbuster due to a cameo from John Krasinski and an extensive battle with music notes that took up a whole two minutes of the film. 

If someone was looking to keep up with events that are happening in the MCU, “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” would be a good film to see. On the other hand, if someone is looking for a good quality superhero film that encapsulates what Marvel Studios has been about for the past decade, they might just have to wait for another film to be released.