“Shazam! Fury of the Gods” - A Movie Review

Cast:

Zachary Levi as Shazam

Asher Angel as Billy Batson

Jack Dylan Grazer as Freddy Freeman

Faithe Herman as Darla Dudley

Meagan Good as Darla Dudley (grown-up version)

Grace Fulton as Mary Bromfield

Michelle Borth as Mary Bromfield (grown-up version)

Ian Chen as Eugene Choi

Ross Butler as Eugene Choi (grown-up version)

Jovan Armand as Pedro Peña

D.J. Cotrona as Pedro Peña (grown-up version)

Adam Brody as Freddie Freeman (grown-up version)

Rachel Zegler as Hespera

Lucy Liu as Kalypso

Helen Mirren as Hespera

Crew:

David F. Sandberg (Director)

Henry Gayden (Writer)

Peter Safran (Producer)

Michael E. Uslan (Executive Producer)

Walter Hamada (Executive Producer)

Bill Dubuque (Story By)

Darren Lemke (Story By)

John Reagan (Editor)

Benjamin Wallfisch (Composer)

Maxime Alexandre (Director of Photography)

Shazam: Fury of the Gods was originally slated to hit theaters almost a year ago, but due to the pandemic, its release was delayed. Since then, major changes have occurred in the DC film universe and content universe as a whole. James Gunn and Peter Safran have taken over executive duties from Walter Hameda, and their approach to the DC film universe has essentially entailed starting from scratch. In this context, Fury of the Gods carries the burden not only of being a pandemic-delayed film but also of being responsible for the franchise's future. So, the question on viewers' minds is not just whether the movie is good or bad, but whether it makes a case for the Shazamily to live on. The answer is kind of, but not really.

Despite the struggles of the dying DCEU, Shazam remains a beacon of humor and heart. The sequel, like the first film, successfully blends comedy and heartwarming storytelling. In this installment, Billy (Asher Angel) is rapidly approaching 18 and is afraid of aging out of the foster care system. He is determined to bring the Shazamily together to cement their bond as a family before circumstances force them apart. However, each member of the Shazamily has their own individual interests and goals, which make it difficult to foster a sense of togetherness. Matters only get more complicated when three daughters of the vengeful god Atlas, portrayed by Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu, and Rachel Zegler, arrive with the intention of taking the Shazamily's powers to restore their decaying world, where they were trapped by the Wizard (Djmon Honsou).

Once again, Jack Dylan Grazer, who plays Billy's best friend and surrogate brother Freddy, steals the show. He is the non-Shazam character with the most to do, and his character arc is the most compelling. However, this is also where the film's major problem lies.

With Billy's five foster siblings, Shazam (Zachary Levi), foster parents, three villains, the Wizard, and a dragon, the movie struggles to give all of its characters enough screen time. The film offers everyone a moment to shine, but it's difficult to say that viewers come out of Fury of the Gods knowing any of Billy's siblings beyond Darla (Faithe Herman/Meagan Goode) and Freddy any better than they did after the first film, despite their increased presence.

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Despite its struggles with character development, Fury of the Gods is visually impressive. The villains feel more threatening, the destruction they bring feels more chaotic, and the dragon is everything it was hyped up to be. Without giving away spoilers, the film will undoubtedly leave Bronies and Horse Girls feeling vindicated.

While Fury of the Gods is a fun watch, it doesn't break any new ground in the superhero genre. In a world where superhero movies and TV shows are a dime a dozen, being fun isn't enough to stand out. Going to the theater requires money and time, and in a post-COVID-19 world, people are more discerning about where they invest their time. Shazam's unique humor makes him a great candidate to transition to Gunn and Safran's new regime, but the film needs more than just fun to make it worth viewers' while. (P.S.: We recommend staying in your seat until all of the credits roll on Fury of the Gods.)

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