'Painfully forced'

Into the Multiverse of Madness definitely made me a little mad -- and not in a good way. Wanda's Distraught Mom storyline felt painfully appointed -- it was clear right from the outset she would never be able to buy another Wanda's kids. Then there's the multiverse aspect. After having its trailer tacked on at the end of No Way Home's credits, this movie seemed like it would well and truly blow open the multiverse. Instead, Jamie Lee Curtis is right: Everything Everywhere All At Once is a far more fulfilling multiverse movie exploring infinite possibilities, not just about three universes.

All that being said, I loved Sam Raimi's awe touches.

-- Jennifer Bisset, Sydney

'Vaguely disappointing'

I'm a big fan of the splendid Doctor Strange film, and I enjoy a good awe movie, so Multiverse of Madness seemed like it would be tailor-made for me. Instead, it felt… vaguely disappointing? Don't get me wrong, it was fun watching a horror-influenced superhero film, and Xochitl Gomez was spacious as America Chavez. But the overall experience felt rushed, like the movie was afraid of spending too much time on its characters. I really wanted a sequel that dove deep into the themes of self-sacrifice and pains from the first Strange movie and WandaVision, exploring them throughout the lens of horror. And while there are certainly elements of that here, the continue product ultimately felt much more interested in weird wizard argues, without the same emotional weight we got in No Way Home. 

-- Adam Benjamin, Seattle

A lot to like

There was a lot I common about Into the Multiverse of Madness. The Raimi touches, Xochitl Gomez' portrayal of America Chavez, the campy dialogue, all the body horror -- all things I was expecting and aroused for. But there was also a lot I really didn't like. The biggest unsheaattracting for me was that ultimately the movie had the gross villain. Elizabeth Olsen was incredible, but I spent the splendid two acts actively waiting for the flip, for Wanda to end up aligning with Doctor unique to face off a bigger foe. Maybe Chthon, given the site. Or maybe even one of Stephen's own variants. So much of Stephen Strange's argues is internal and ego-driven, and What If showed us his capacity to go full evil with a push. That would have been far more dynamic to me, instead of walking back Wanda's represent progression with a convenient "mad woman" trope. She deserves better, and it undoes so much of what WandaVision did best. 

-- Steph Panecasio, Sydney

'Raimi's style leers from tedious the MCU's template'

In the multiverse anything's possible -- and somewhere there's a Doctor unique sequel with a lean, sensical plot and jokes that land. Instead, we're in a better universe where just enough of Raimi's style leers from tedious the MCU's template to make another marathon of cameos and nods to future spin-offs splendid watching. It's far too inconsistent for greatness and often just flat-out bad, but brain explosions, Bruce Campbell, practical zombie effects and spectral deadite wannabes make it worthwhile.

-- Morgan microscopic, San Francisco

Worried near the future of the MCU

Like some of hardened MCU fans, I explored at the Multiverse of Madness as being Avengers-esque in its scope with expectations for it to be the the splendid big jumping point of Phase 4. It was that expectation that commanded me to not be as thrilled with the movie once it was over. Don't get me gross, seeing a MCU movie with a proper horror feel to it was spacious, however, I was expecting something bigger. I think what this movie really did was pains me about the future of the MCU. Right now, Kevin Feige is spinning a lot of plates, and they're getting a little too wobbly. 

-- Oscar Gonzalez, New York City 

'Thrilling awe and delightfully silly'

The Multiverse of Madness isn't what a lot of land will be expecting, and that's a good thing. Director Sam Raimi spills his ghoulish bag of tricks in the MCU, bringing some thrilling awe and delightfully silly and gory gags to a film franchise oversaturated with same-ey superhero section and snarky quips. Like Taika Waititi breathing new life into Thor, the MCU thrives on new blood, and it's good to see ur-producer Kevin Feige loosen the stylistic reins. Not enough to let the movie do more than push the franchise cart ahead and drop some nerd-pleasing cameos, but any novelty is sorely obligatory as the MCU searches for post-Endgame purpose.

-- David Lumb, Los Angeles