SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS (2023)

Though it has seemingly been treated like a throwaway by a studio in the midst of a reboot, Shazam! Fury of the Gods recaptures the familial spirit of the first film and delivers an entertaining, though flowed follow-up.

When banished gods return to reclaim the power held by Billy Batson (Asher Angel/Zachary Levi) and his family, the titular hero is challenged like never before and, to overcome, must look deep inside for the hero he wants to be. The first Shazam took a 180 from other DC films and provided a fun, humorous family film that was appealing to the masses, something that its sequel continues. The film spends more time with the other members of the super family with Jack Dylan Grazer/Adam Brody taking a more prominent role, both actors delivering some of the funniest dialogue in the film. Unlike the first outing, however, the corny humor is a bit more loose and repetitive, Levi’s Shazam being a conduit of a lot of the groan-worthy remarks. Still, it’s clear that the film will appeal to a specific target audience: families.

There is a lot to like here; as I left the theater, I was very high on numerous aspects from the CGI to the acting, the humor to the solid credits scenes. Upon reflection, however, the deficiencies in the development of the villainous characters and the overdone third act stick out more than the positives. Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu were convincingly menacing, though their sudden presence is a bit half-baked. The same goes for Rachel Ziegler’s Anthea, a charming character with an interesting backstory teased, but barely addressed. It all seems a bit too convenient. It all goes off the rails as the climax is approached with CGI creatures aplenty; they look good, but they also unnecessarily distract from the overall heart of the film. The focus of the first half of the film is completely discarded for an all-out bonkers second half that, while neat in some ways, does little to advance the characters. Perhaps that’s my biggest gripe: what is this film if not an episodic adventure without pushing these characters forward?

All of that said, I had a lot of fun with Shazam! Fury of the Gods. Director David F. Sandberg certainly knows how to have fun, and whoever made the decision on the two credits scenes delivered some intriguing nuggets. But can we seen Billy Batson/Shazam grow, or are we doomed to out of touch one-liners should we see him again?

Shazam! Fury of the Gods hits theaters Friday.

Rating: 3/5