Hello, dear reader, it is that time of year again.
Don't worry, there is plenty on your mind right now about the state of the world; hopefully, the worst of it will be over very soon. People will eventually find good jobs for good pay. There will be fewer social and cultural issues all around. And all of the election madness will come to an end, to be replaced by some dreary and boring politicking.
Nonetheless, there proves to be a remaining constant in society: the desire to use entertainment as an escape from this sick, miserable world. Enter Doctor Strange to come in and provide this soothing balm to a society in pain. Of course, there are people who have not seen the movie and did not want it to be spoiled for them, so there is no need to delve into the plot. But the important thing is that the movie came when we all needed it the most.
Of course, the argument can be made that the more potent film that represents the mood of the time is Captain America: Civil War or Hell or High Water. After all, the former deals with a once-united team split in half due to the manipulations of an Eastern European operative and the latter deals with .
But then again, this weariness can be inflicted on moviegoers by the real world due its very nature, which is why they come to the movies in the first place. Marvel Films, as lead by Disney, has recognized this. This mentality is one of the reasons why their Cinematic Universe is now the new Hollywood gold standard from which all others are judged, along with the Harry Potter films. Of course, the fact that Captain America: Civil War exists is evidence that the suits recognize the mood of the time, and Doctor Strange is no different.
However, without wishing to give away any spoilers, the emotional tone of the ending reveals perhaps what the people really want these days. Because the stereotypical "Hollywood ending" is simply not cutting it for people anymore, at least those who don't constantly watch Hallmark or Lifetime movies. But then again, they are not going to go out of their way to watch a movie that leaves them emotionally crushed; at the very least, they are unlikely to watch it again. What the people really want is a good movie that gives them something to talk about on social media hidden behind spoiler labels. Because life influences art, and it is messy and almost ties up all loose ends in a neat little bow. They still want to go to fantastical worlds, but they want said worlds to make sense in terms of emotional reality.
If Hollywood can stick to that more often, it can ride the wave of "Netflix and chill" just fine.
