Strange Sense of Humor - Comedy in Doctor Strange

[Mike Murdock]

I thought about calling the title "The Warnings Come After the Spells - The Humor Thread" but I thought that was a little too spoilery. If someone can remember the exact wording of what Wong said at the end in response, I'll edit my post to that.

What did people think of the humor in the movie? What were some of your favorite jokes? To me, I thought every joke was solid. I thought there was the right amount of humor and seriousness. Unfortunately, I thought the placement of the jokes was completely inappropriate. My favorite joke from the trailers was the "Mister Doctor" joke. It was met with uproarious laughter because it's genuinely funny. But it arrives at a really tense moment and deflates that tension.

On the other hand, I liked the Cloak of Levitation slapstick a lot more than I thought I would. I also loved Wong's laughing at the end.

 

[Ozbridge]

I thought about calling the title "The Warnings Come After the Spells - The Humor Thread" but I thought that was a little too spoilery. If someone can remember the exact wording of what Wong said at the end in response, I'll edit my post to that.

Your title is quite right,

Spoiler

after Kaecilius and his 2 minions are sucked into the Dark Dimention Strange said "You should have stolen the whole book because the warnings... the warnings come after the spells." Then Wong burst out laughing, Strange looked at him quizzically and Wong said "That's funny".

Personally I find the Cloak scenes a bit too carton-ish even for Marvel standards (drying Strange's tears, or dragging him towards a particular direction so Strange was practically running on treadmill, it doesn't help that Cumberbatch ran with his eyes fixed on the floor like a 5-year-old), though probably many will find it funny. Christine's humorous scenes are a bit on-the-nose too ("Christine!!!" "Are you kidding me?", the scene where she looked at the hanging cloak and didn't even bother to comment and the scene where the broom fell and she was really startled). Those are in the middle of very serious scenes and the humour was distracting.

 

[TeeKay]

Mister Dr.

 

[Kyle]

This film and Guardians of the Galaxy utilized humor the best of any MCU movie. The jokes worked as well as they did because there was tension. A lot of it. And if that wasn't relieved, the tension could have easily been over done. One of the film's strengths, like Guardians, is knowing that a lot of what's going on is absurd and having fun with it. Never going too serious or too humorous, but always riding the current to make it just the right amount.

 

[TheVileOne]

I didn't mind the humor so much. Audiences seemed to enjoy it.

I guess my main problem was making the Cloak of Levitation a sentient type of character, but for some reason having the spell catchphrases is too cheesy.

I just don't get what's wrong with the catchphrases. It's like Marvel is worried audiences will freak out if Hulk talks or something. Why can't Hulk talk? In Earth's Mightiest Heroes, Hulk actually talks like a normal person, and it's never a big deal.

 

[Web-Head]

Some of the jokes fell flat for me but I can't remember which ones right now off the top of my head.

Wong listening to Beyonce was pretty hilarious though.

 

[TheVileOne]

One line I wish they kept in from IMAX was Strange responding to The Ancient One, pointing out how because of what she said, he should already be running away and screaming in terror.

 

[Spider-Who?]

I thought the humor was decent enough throughout, but playing [BLACKOUT]Strange's sacrifice of dying over and over for eternity[/BLACKOUT] for laughs was incredibly tone deaf and killed what could have been one of the most powerful moments in the MCU.

 

[Superhero 101]

I liked the humor it felt natural and not forced like tdw I liked the tea hit with ancient one the Beyonce and Eminem bit with Wong. and Wong laughing at the end was great I even liked the humor in the fight scene at the sanctum also the cloak was great and the after credit scene was pretty funny too

 

[AlluAllu]

Eh, I enjoyed some jokes, but most didn't land this time for me. It was a bit awkward.

 

[CaptainWagner]

The humor was one of my biggest complaints. Besides Strange himself just being too witty, there were two particuarily blatant moments where it just seems like Marvel refuses to allow any scene to be actually serious, dark, and intense, and really ruined two great moments for me. [BLACKOUT]Interrupting the death of the Ancient One with a pointless sight gag was bad enough, but then they ruined what should have been an incredibly powerful scene of Strange's "bargain" by playing the whole concept for laughs![/BLACKOUT]

 

[Silvermoth]

Yeah I admit, the humour didn't quite work. Strange talking about Beyoncé didn't quite work but at least the follow up joke with Wong did.

Ironically, I don't think strange having a stoner sense of humour worked for him. Maybe more cynical and sarcastic next time? Idk

 

[MadVillainy]

Yeah I admit, the humour didn't quite work. Strange talking about Beyoncé didn't quite work but at least the follow up joke with Wong did.

Ironically, I don't think strange having a stoner sense of humour worked for him. Maybe more cynical and sarcastic next time? Idk

Yeah if it wasn't for the follow up gag I wouldnt have liked that at all

The humor was one of my biggest complaints. Besides Strange himself just being too witty, there were two particuarily blatant moments where it just seems like Marvel refuses to allow any scene to be actually serious, dark, and intense, and really ruined two great moments for me. [BLACKOUT]Interrupting the death of the Ancient One with a pointless sight gag was bad enough, but then they ruined what should have been an incredibly powerful scene of Strange's "bargain" by playing the whole concept for laughs![/BLACKOUT]

I dont get why Marvel has this mentality. The movies can be funny without putting the humor in bad spots.

But hey they still make loads of money so they don't see a need to change.

 

[Sundancer]

I was thinking of starting this thread because its seems every Marvel movie needs a minimum level of humor, like a joke every 15 minutes.


Most of the jokes coming from Strange didn't seem work, like saying "Beyonce? Eminem?" I never thought of Dr. Strange as a quipper though I've never reed the comics.

That and the wifi password joke made me groan. Him stealing books form the library was fairly funny.

 

[Flint Marko]

The humor was one of my biggest complaints. Besides Strange himself just being too witty, there were two particuarily blatant moments where it just seems like Marvel refuses to allow any scene to be actually serious, dark, and intense, and really ruined two great moments for me. [BLACKOUT]Interrupting the death of the Ancient One with a pointless sight gag was bad enough, but then they ruined what should have been an incredibly powerful scene of Strange's "bargain" by playing the whole concept for laughs![/BLACKOUT]

Wait,

Spoiler

What sight gag are you referring to with the Ancient One's death?

 

[TeeKay]

There was none. Unless he's talking about when Christine saw the cape.

 

[Flint Marko]

That was one of the best sequences in the entire movie. I have no idea what he could be referring to that "ruined" it.

 

[NotNickFury]

Very hit and miss to me. Some jokes and even moments I liked, like Strange arriving at the hospital the second time, much to Christine's disbelief yet again, Strange getting the texts with Wong unaware, the tea, and a few other moments.

But when the comedy didn't work, it really didn't work. I don't need the cloak to wipe Strange's tear or for Christine to suddenly get spooked by a broom falling after Strange left...Wong having one name I sort of liked. Didn't need Strange to rattle through a list of one-named folks for pop culture's sake. The Beyonce one at least had a payoff, but that felt like something I'd expect from Guardians of the Galaxy, not Doctor Strange.

Or other things like Strange threatening to put the device back on Kaecilius- that's something I'd expect from maybe Stark, but again, not Strange. The bargain one was funny because I could see that from Strange, but in addition, he was pretty clever with his plan.

When the comedy worked, I liked it. But there were many moments where comedy was added in for the sake of comedy that didn't land well. What works well in one Marvel film for comedy doesn't work for the others.

 

[Sundancer]

When the comedy worked, I liked it. But there were many moments where comedy was added in for the sake of comedy that didn't land well. What works well in one Marvel film for comedy doesn't work for the others.

Yup.