Formula isn\'t a problem, but not everything suits a formula. I get annoyed with super hero movies for almost always framing every superhero movie as an origin story. Not every hero needs one, especially if they already have had a couple of origin movies already (see Spiderman/Batman). The better received movies tend to be the ones that skip past all that (no back story for Dark Knight\'s Joker, and Star Lord\'s is summarised in a two minute opening in Guardians of the Galaxy). The formula requires the audience to sit through the same \"guy can\'t control powers very well yet, comically falls over when testing them\" scene in a dozen movies.
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When the formula is strong off that the dialogue in every Marvel film is interchangeable it begins to make them into a bit of a blurry mess. It also puts them in a weird situation where they\'re continuity obsessed but Status Quo is God. Major characters will fall out with each other and go on Arcs but they\'ll still all act exactly the same because they need to get the same inoffensive banter into the films.
Bond films I would note, somehow manage to be _less_ formulaic than this. They\'re formulaic in the details, bond girls, gadgets world ending stuff. But each film careers about wildly in tone and style, all making them very much their own thing. Casino Royale is grey, painful and trying to hammer home the nitty gritty pain on Bond. Skyfall is a globe-trotting lavish adventure complete with Home Alone finale. Spectre is orange.
Marvel films are the reverse. The details are completely different film to film, but the tone and style is wall-flat consistent in each film. They have the same visual language, the same character moments, the same dialogue - even the same generic soundtracks*. Marvel diversity is \"Witty banter in America\" \"Witty banter in space\" \"Witty banter in space Asgard\" \"Witty banter with spies\".
The reason all Marvel movies are good is all Marvel movies are the same good film, with different versions of wisecracking affable heroes who get along with each other slotted in with a fancy new backdrop.
- Except Guardians of the Galaxy, which is why that one has improved in my estimation the more I watch other Marvel films, whilst my old favourites begin to sink. That soundtrack had style
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Formula isn't a bad thing.
I am a die-hard fan of the MCU. It isn't perfect, and not every film/TV show within in it is flawless (looking at you Iron Man 2 and Thor: The Dark World), but they've yet to release a single truly bad piece of work. That having been said though, each film does follow a particular formula in terms of story structure, and all (especially the origin films) share similar elements:
- Down on his luck/arrogant main lead.
- Gets powers usually under dire circumstances (Tony being trapped by terrorists, Thor being unworthy, World War II in Cap 1 etc.)
- Love Interest that starts off kind of bossy but grows warmer to the main lead once he goes through character development.
- Villain who shares similar powers to protagonist
- Lots of quips
- Lots of big, CGI filled action sequences
- Cast of colorful side characters
And so on. Formula isn't a bad thing though (e.g. James Bond, Star Wars, Godzilla Etc.), having familiar elements be locked in means you can focus on what's really important. Doctor Strange hits every single beat that I mentioned above, but still manages to be a fun and entertaining movie nonetheless. Benedict Cumberbatch is endlessly watchable as Strange, managing to pull off a charming mixture of arrogant and vulnerable that only he can do, the magic in the film is inventive and allows for some truly jaw dropping visuals, the side characters are all really fun (especially Benedict Wong as Wong, who is the recipient of the best gag in the movie and Chiwetel Ejiofor as Mordo, who has great chemistry with Cumberbatch) and the action is really creative and unique, my favorite being a brawl in the Sanctum Sanctorum involving a sentient cloak.It even manages to overcome a few staple Marvel flaws, as the soundtrack is amazing and Mads Mikkelsen's Kaecilius, whilst he won't be on anyone's top 10 best villains of all time list, is still a solid foe due to his coherent motivation and Mikkelsen's menacing performance.
Flaws, however, are a plenty. There is a bit of inconsistency with how the magic works, Rachel Mc Adams has pretty much nothing to do throughout the entire film and feels perfunctory, the pacing is wonky at times...and then there's the Ancient One. Tilda Swinton is great as the Ancient One, she might be my favorite character in the film, however, this doesn't change the fact that the character is white-washed. I realise there were extenuating circumstances behind the casting choice but it doesn't remove the implications of having taken away the role of asian character and given it a white person. Being white myself, I can't really talk about this, as I'm not knowledgeable enough, however I do believe it is a mark against the film.
All in all though, Doctor Strange is fun, and worthy of a hearty recommendation. Oh, and stay through the credits. DORMAMMU, I'VE COME TO BARGAIN WITH YOU!