If a formula works - what’s wrong with that?

If a formula works - why not break it?

These are the two rules that define, and ultimately embolden the fourteenth installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Strange.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: a smug, self-centered successful rich white dude has a traumatic experience which causes much rage, anger, and ultimately a moment of clarity - to be something greater they must breakdown what came before and become a symbol of heroism and purity.

That’s 2005’s Batman Begins. That’s 2008’s Iron Man. And that too is 2016’s Doctor Strange.

Honestly, that’s what the hero’s journey is all about, but I can understand why on paper, people were dreading this film. In a structure, however, lies the ability to go farther, to bend things to your will - and that’s where director Scott Derrickson (Sinister) alongside writers Jon Spaihts and C. Robert Cargill start to have fun.

Benedict Cumberbatch of Sherlock fame is our Stephen Strange, giving serious nerd cred to what has always been one of the lesser loved Marvel properties. It’s long been said that it’s a comic that every writer has a pitch for, which really underlines the deep-dive nature of the character - bringing Doctor Strange to life is arguably as risky as Guardians of the Galaxy was just two Summer’s ago.

Stephen is a master surgeon, top of his game. Super cocky, super confident, super headstrong (it’s going to be a joy to see him mix it up with Tony Stark in future films), everything is taken away from him - including his love interest, nurse Christine Palmer (a terribly underused Rachel McAdams) - after a massive car accident.

Broken, beaten, without the use of his talented hands, and searching for a new start, Strange finds himself in Nepal, and seeking the tutelage under the Ancient One - who, it is claimed, has lead to impossible healing in patients around the globe.

You can see where this is going - the Ancient One has powers beyond our understanding, and Strange has to become a fast learner. Why? Random villain, of course! Kaecilius, played by a scenery-chewing Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal), a former student of the Ancient One, who intends to bring forth an even BIGGER baddie, the dark dimension ruler known as Dormammu.

This sounds pretty boilerplate - even down to the hapless female love interest, given little to do. But remember the fun I was talking about before?

With the foundation of your standard superhero film in place, Doctor Strange is home to some of the wildest special effects seen in a Marvel movie to date, and some of the craziest storytelling yet. If you’re the type still amazed that Marvel Studios produces movies where our favorite four-color heroes congregate and collide, just wait until you see high level conversations and in-depth sequences involving the Astral Plane and (finally!) the multiverse! Battles with cities turning into literal kaleidoscopes give way to magic involving time and space, and climax in one of the weirdest, bleakest, and boldest third act sequences in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, if not blockbuster filmmaking, full stop.

That’s what makes Doctor Strange such a thrill to watch. Now that the template exists, we as an audience can accept the subversion of it…but not all is well in the world of comic book filmmaking.

One of the biggest concerns leading into the release of this film was the subject of how it was handling minorities and stereotypes. I have some good news, some bad.

Yes - the movie now takes place in Nepal instead of Tibet (possibly to avoid conflict with Chinese film audiences), and yes, the Ancient One is no longer of Asian descent. But I will be honest with you - the performance Tilda Swinton gives is absolutely phenomenal, arguably standing out more than Cumberbatch, and if anyone transcends race, sex, and countless other factors it is the surreal and alien-like Swinton. (Better her than another “mystic Asian stereotype", I feel, too. It ain’t good, it ain’t great, but it removes some pain from it.) I will say, however, I am rather bummed by how underused that Chiwetel Ejiofor is as Karl Mordo. Acting as a sidekick of sorts to Strange, Ejiofor is a brillant actor looking for his moment here. The movie seems to hint toward greater things for him, but in a movie already dealing with some minority issues, it’s a shame to see Mordo marginalized.

Doctor Strange isn’t a movie without flaws, clearly, but it is a true bold step for Marvel Studios. If you can overlook the hard decisions made, you’ll have a blast - and I cannot wait to see where Stephen Strange and his incredible powers land next.

Doctor Strange is in theaters now.