Warning: MAJOR Doctor Strange spoilers ahead, only read further if you've seen the latest Phase 3 Marvel movie!
By now you have probably heard that Marvel's Doctor Strange is amazing. The origin story for Benedict Cumberbatch's Sorcerer Supreme blasted its way into theaters this weekend, and delivered some of the most thrilling superhero action we have seen in quite some time -- at least since the airport sequence in Captain America: Civil War. Doctor Strange has officially introduced magic and mysticism into the MCU, and we've never been more excited to see what Phase 3 has in store.
However, there's another vital reason why Doctor Strange works so well: it's genuinely hilarious. In true Marvel fashion, Stephen Strange's solo movie delivers a ton of laughs that perfectly offset the drama. With that in mind, we've compiled a list of the ten funniest moments from the latest Marvel origin story. Without further ado, let's get started with one of The Ancient One's cruelest training techniques...
The Everest Scene
Sometimes it takes a bit of tough love for a lesson to really get through to someone. The Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) seems to recognize this fact, and she expertly employs it to help Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) properly learn how to use his Sling Ring. Taking him to the top of Mount Everest, at first it seems that she's simply showing him how easy use of the Sling Ring truly is. However, she then shows her true intentions by stranding him on the peak of the mountain -- forcing him to figure it out on his own. It's a hilariously tense scene, and made even better by the legitimate concern from Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor). His response makes it fairly clear that The Ancient One has done this before.
"Just Wong? Like Adele?"
It goes without saying that Wong (Benedict Wong) is one of the most surprisingly loveable characters from Doctor Strange. His stoic nature and commitment to his craft perfectly balances out Stephen Strange's looser attitude towards magic. The inherent humor between these two characters comes early and comes fast when Strange is taken aback by Wong's single name. Likening him to contemporary pop stars like Drake and Adele, Strange's references never seem to get a laugh out of the mystical librarian, but they managed to make us laugh every single time.
Wong Loves Beyonce
Although it's a mystical place full of magic and wonder, Kamar-Taj is not without the luxuries of the modern world. There is Wi-Fi, computers, and even Beyoncé. After Stephen Strange fails to get a laugh by likening Wong's single name to Queen Bey, the burgeoning sorcerer assumes that Wong must not know who the pop star is. Smash cut to Wong listening to "Single Ladies" as Stephen Strange steals books from the library. Pop culture references don't always land in Marvel movies, but this one is absolutely perfect, and delivered some of Doctor Strange's biggest laughs.
The Cloak of Levitation
By now it's pretty clear that the unsung hero of Doctor Strange doesn't even have a single line of dialogue in the entire film. From the moment it appears on screen, The Cloak of Levitation lets Strange know that it won't take any of his B.S. during their partnership. This leads to some phenomenal physical comedy between Strange and the Cloak as they try to run in opposite directions and disagree on which course of action to take in a fight. It's early, but we think Stephen Strange and The Cloak of Levitation could become the Riggs and Murtaugh of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We'll never get too old for that shit.
Mister Doctor
Despite the fact that they spend most of the movie trying to kill one another, Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen) and Stephen Strange have some great chemistry. When these two sorcerers first meet (just prior to the action), they get an awesome homage to the classic Abbott & Costello "Who's on first?" bit in which Kaecilius simply cannot figure out Strange's name, eventually deciding to settle on "Mister Doctor." In a movie driven by spectacle and special effects, this particular scene exhibits the strength and humor of Doctor Strange's character-driven script.
Strange Traps Kaecilius In A Crippling Suit
To say that Stephen Strange is outmatched in his first battle with Kaecilius would be a major understatement. He's only able to get the upper hand against the evil sorcerer by using a mysterious magic artifact from the New York Sanctum that traps the villain in place. The way the device slowly unravels around Kaecilius and contorts his body is bizarre, otherworldly, and makes for some awesome (albeit awkward) laughs in the theater. If you got some bizarre BDSM vibes from that sequence, don't worry; you're not alone. 50 Shades of Strange, anyone?
The Broom Closet
The entire hospital sequence after Strange finds himself reunited with Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams) is pure comedic gold, but director Scott Derrickson saves the best joke for last. After suffering through an entire invisible battle between her ex-boyfriend and one of Kaecilius' zealots, Dr. Palmer is on edge, to say the least. When Strange takes her into a broom closet to show her the portal created by his Sling Ring, she watches in awe as he walks off to take on the potentially universe-ending threat. As she stands in the closet to ponder what she has just witnessed, Palmer doesn't notice a broom fall off a shelf behind her and land on the floor with a loud crash. It's a phenomenal jump scare that punctuates a thrilling action sequence.
Strange Annoys Dormammu Into Submission
Even before he developed the ability to warp reality and channel energy, Stephen Strange possessed one very notable superpower: a smartass sense of humor that could rival that of Tony Stark. With that in mind, his final showdown with Dormammu was not a grand fight scene; it was a battle of wits. Locking the behemoth from the Dark Dimension into a time loop, Strange commits himself to annoying Dormammu for all eternity until the villain decides to come to the bargaining table. It's an undeniably heroic sacrifice for Strange to make, but it's also completely played for laughs and feels reminiscent of Star-Lord beating Ronan the Accuser by challenging him to a dance off.
Wong Finally Laughs
It takes the entire movie for Stephen Strange to finally get a laugh out of Wong, but when he does it's completely worth it. After defeating Dormammu and banishing Kaecilius to The Dark Dimension, Strange makes a quick crack about the warnings coming after the spells in The Ancient One's books. This resonates with Wong, and the typically stoic character finally lets out a heavy chuckle, providing the perfect amount of catharsis to cap off a fairly dramatic third act battle sequence. Wong may not laugh very often, but the guy definitely has a sense of humor.
Strange Meets Thor
It wouldn't be a Marvel movie without a great mid-credits scene and an allusion to the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Despite the grandiosity of Doctor Strange's story and action scenes, the mid-credits scene in the latest MCU adventure shows a surprising amount of restraint by simply showing a conversation between Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Strange over some magic beers. There are shades of the shawarma scene from The Avengers here, as the two Marvel characters discuss the impending threat posed by Loki (Tom Hiddleston) while Strange uses his reality-bending abilities to top off their drinks. It's official: we're ready for Thor: Ragnarok to hit theaters next fall.
What was your favorite comedic moment from Doctor Strange? Let us know what you think in the comments section below!
