Shazam! Fury Of The Gods (2023)

Saying that it has been a few turbulent years for DC would be an incredible understatement. They had to deal with Ezra Miller’s lawsuits, the backlash after Batgirl’s cancellation and the hiring of a whole new leaderboard. DC had hoped to (re-)gain the fans with “Black Adam“. Well, we all know how that turned out, right? Now it’s up to Shazam to save the citizens of Philadelphia and what once was one of the best film production companies.

After gaining their new powers, Shazam (Zachary Levi) and his superhero foster family enjoy what the original wizard (Djimon Hounsou) gave them. With their unique style, they keep Philadelphia safe, and despite the media’s criticism, they keep doing what they’re good at. However, some newspaper headlines become the least of their worries when the daughters of Atlas, Hespera (Helen Mirren), Kalypso (Lucy Liu) and Anthea (Rachel Zegler), are threatening Philadelphia. They want to get the magical powers back that once were theirs. Shazam and his family have to come together even stronger than before, but when doubt, anger and the imposter syndrome come into play, that’s easier said than done. How can a superhero family save the people when they can’t even save themselves?

Making a stand-out superhero movie isn’t easy because we get one superhero film every few months. However, that’s what director David F. Sandberg (“Annabelle: Creation”, “Lights Out”) did in 2019 when he brought “Shazam!” to life with a lot of sass, humour, entertainment and a great Levi in the leading role. He (re-)uses those aspects for “Shazam!: Fury of the Gods” as well, but this time, they feel a bit more irritating and generic, resulting in a more safe and predictable Shazam.

The main reason for that is the simple plot. DC tries to make the plot interesting, but they do it incorrectly. Instead of making the simple plot stand out more with uniqueness and creativity, they add a lot of unnecessary subplots, over-the-top scenes, and moments that could have easily been left out. With Shazam doubting himself and Freddy falling for Anthea head over heels, it’s clear this movie wants to focus a lot on emotions. However, those feelings are underused. According to the two end-credit scenes, the filmmakers want to create a cohesive universe, so let’s hope that that is what they do if there’s a third Shazam movie.

Despite the weak and at the same time also overcomplicated plot, “Shazam!: Fury of the Gods” still has a lot to offer. For one, they re-invented their superhero costumes. At the end of the first film, it looked like Shazam and his family were about to head off to a playful costume party, but now their attire looks much more professional. Yes, there are still bright colours and eye-catching golden flashes, but thanks to the subtle finishing and the strong metal, the superheroes look ready to take on the world.

Who’s also ready to conquer the world and your heart is Levi (“Thor: The Dark World”, “The Mauritanian”). His charms, charisma and playfulness are on the same level as in the first film. Because we don’t see much of the young Shazam, Asher Angel doesn’t have much to work with, which is a shame as he was great in the first instalment, but when he appears on-screen, he certainly grabs your attention. While the whole Shazam family is lovely, it’s Jack Dylan Frazer (“Dreamin’ Wild”, “It”) as the young Freddy Freeman who shines the brightest with an emotional and funny performance.

Liu and Mirren are brilliant as the villains. Liu (“Chicago”, “Kill Bill: Vol. 1”) is undoubtedly having a blast on-screen as the devious and dark Kalypso, while Mirren (“The Duke”, “Fast & Furious 8”) isn’t afraid of being part of another massive franchise. Mirren doesn’t have a lot of work to do. Because she has one of the funniest scenes in the movie, we can only imagine what her performance must have looked like if she got a few more scenes.

The same can be said for Zegler. If you’ve seen “West Side Story”, you know what she has to offer: A brilliant and emotional performance. Sadly, she doesn’t get to shine in this movie because we don’t see much of her character. However, the bonding scenes between her and Frazer are probably are the most emotional moments. Hounsou’s (“Gladiator”, “Guardians of the Galaxy”) performance brings a badass and comedic vibe to this film.

What makes this movie very appealing are the stunning special effects. The flying scenes, the ‘shooting the lightning’ moments, the fights and the speed abilities are a pleasure to watch. The bright colours heighten the vibrancy even more.

While “Shazam!: Fury of the Gods” could have been a bit more balanced, with fewer subplots and more emotional focus, it’s still good fun! This is mainly due to the impeccable cast, the stunning effects and the sassiness. We just don’t know yet if this movie will be enough to get DC back on track.

“Shazam!: Fury of the Gods” is out now in U.K. cinemas