Spoiler-Free Review
Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (MoM) is not Dr. Strange 2. It's not a follow-on from Spider-Man: No Way Home. It is, in fact, WandaVision season 2, and that show (or a good summary) is required before watching MoM. MoM is a feast for the eyes; a rich spectacle with fantastic set-pieces. Some of the fight scenes are particularly inventive and fascinating. And...that's about it. The movie doesn't go anywhere or do anything. The central narrative hook is simplistic and, frankly, very silly. (See spoiler review below.)
Lots of people have been saying how good Xochitl Gomez is as America Chavez, but the truth is her character is just a McGuffin, an object the primary characters fight over. There are plenty of superhero cameos, but they're short and pointless. The acting is superb, but they're dealing with a script that is, in essence, non-sensical. I loved the action pieces (especially a fight using musical notes), and the movie is rewatchable for those alone.
MoM is a feast, but one that leaves you feeling empty. Rating: 3 out of 5
In WandaVision, the writers never could figure out whether or not Wanda was a villain. (She was.) We were supposed to empathize with her grief, but it's hard to feel sorry for her when she physically and psychically enslaved and tortured a few thousand people for weeks. Monica Rambeau, as the audience's avatar, even says the townspeople will never know what Wanda sacrificed for them. Oh, yes, Wanda stops torturing these people and we're supposed to feel bad because Wanda sacrified her make-believe family. What was an intriguing and enthralling show ended on a very sour note.
And therein lies the central problem with both WandaVision and Multiverse of Madness: Wanda is never responsible for her actions. In WV, Wanda's grief leads her to create an alternate reality where she can be happy, even if no one else in the town will ever be happy again. In MoM, the Darkhold corrupts Wanda into seeking her own happiness at the cost of hundreds, maybe thousands, of other lives. The catchphrase from Sam Raimi's Spider-Man films was, "With great power comes great responsibility." In MoM, Raimi says, "With great power comes the complete lack of responsibility for your actions." It's a disheartening message.