Doctor Strange, like Guardians of the Galaxy and Ant-Man before it, was seen as a potential risk for Marvel Studios prior to its release. However, it earned widely positive reviews and grossed a massive $675.9 million at the worldwide box office, becoming the seventh-highest grossing installment in the long-running franchise. The film was praised for its breathtaking visuals and successful integration of magical concepts into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Fan-favorite Benedict Cumberbatch perfectly embodied Doctor Strange for many, and is set to be an integral figure in the series.
For all its merits, the movie isn't above receiving a well-meaning parody or two, and one of the standard bearers in that realm is ScreenJunkies, producers of the famous Honest Trailers web series. Their latest episode takes aim at the exploits of Dr. Stephen Strange, which play out quite similarly to one of Marvel's poster boys. You can watch the video above.
Easy targets for Honest Trailers are the several comparisons between Doctor Strange and the original Iron Man, which kicked off the MCU nearly 10 years ago. When juxtaposed as they are here, it's difficult to not notice them. Over the years, Marvel has clearly developed a formula for their films, a fact that has been the recipient of both praise and criticism. Audiences like that they know what they're getting when they settle in for an MCU entry, but following the same tropes repeatedly runs the risk of becoming stale. Fortunately, it looks like the studio is not going to rely on the traditional origin story as frequently in the coming years, as Spider-Man: Homecoming and Black Panther will throw viewers in the middle of the action.
The supporting cast is also subject to some mocking, as they're considered run-of-the-mill characters to help further the plot. Baron Mordo comes across as little more than an exposition machine to explain the various magical concepts, while Kaecilius is derided as another basic Marvel movie villain whose evil plan isn't all that strong. The real stinger is when Strange's Cloak of Levitation is said to have more personality than any of the humans in the film. Some may take issue with that playful jab, but there's no denying the cloak was incredibly fun to watch on-screen and delivered several funny moments. Hopefully, Strange's future appearances feature more of this aspect.
Honest Trailers doesn't back down from Cumberbatch, either. His infamous American accent is highlighted, becoming the latest in the actor's long line of peculiar dialects after August: Osage County and Black Mass. And, fans will undoubtedly want to stay through the end to see a rather amusing illustration of Cumberbatch's complete dedication to his craft. It's a visual few will forget.
Doctor Strange is now available on Blu-ray and digital HD.
Source: ScreenJunkies
