a combination of narrative regression, tonal shifts, and wasted character potential
Help me understand regression
Regression is when you go backwards in whatever course you decide to take. In many cases it goes against your desired direction.
It can be highly frustrating for someone trying to achieve a specific result. Think of it as trying to pedal a bike to go up a hill.
Suddenly you stop and the bike’s going back. You continue until you’re at the very bottom again. Maybe even further back. That captures regression best.
In the case of this movie, there’s more questions than answers. It’s highly frustrating for true Purists of Dr. Strange and Marvel in general.
Critics are suggesting that there’s a bunch of other stories that’s able to be built on, but this particular direction wasn’t the best.
What makes tonal switches work in some screenplays and not others?
When they are earned, grounded in character truth, and seeded early, rather than forced for a cheap surprise.
I believe they’re earned when enough character development is introduced. That can be a challenge if you’re limited to a certain amount of time to work with.
What you’re doing in this case is adding layers. It’s to a personality the audience is warming up to. Character truth assists with that earning because it’s believable.
People enjoy a great story, but the most underappreciated aspect are the characters. There’s so many stories that were only “okay” in comparison to an even stronger cast.
If something becomes completely out of character, it feels forced and inappropriate to the setting. That’s the cheap feeling that proves to do more harm than good for films.
Characters Who Suffer From Wasted Potential
Characters that suffer from wasted potential are a major disappointment when the story itself is solid.
It gets frustrating when you can find stories that have everything you’re looking for in the specific genre.
Maybe it’s drama, horror, action, or whatever it is. There’s a full cast list with an incredible world. It reaches a fandom that has support all across the board.
Everybody that likes the main brand has a specific section of the story they appreciate most. It’s usually composed of a group of characters that make the moment so memorable.
Where the criticism happens with the harshest critics will usually be with wasted potential. Specifically with the characters of the story, they see more opportunity.
It could be the potential they hold in driving the story even further. Maybe they’re just underutilized. Eventually written to be downplayed.
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