Overview: Shazam! Fury of the Gods is campy however filled with coronary heart

If there’s one factor anybody is aware of to not do — it is to piss off the Gods. Shazam! Fury of the Gods brings again Billy Batson (Asher Angel) and household of supers again to the massive display on this equally light-hearted sequel that at occasions, does annoy the viewers. This time although, they are going up towards not only one, however three villains who’re additionally — get this — Gods. 

The daughters of the Greek God Atlas Hespera (Helen Mirren), Kalypso (Lucy Liu) and Anthea (Rachel Ziegler) have crossed over to the human realm to take again what was as soon as stolen from them — the magic workers and the magic it comprises, which we final noticed within the first movie, in addition to a seed that may assist restore their godly realm into what it as soon as was. 

The three sisters carry an enormous a part of the film, sometimes displaying Billy and his Shazamily that they are unworthy of the God powers bestowed by the Wizard (Djimon Hounsou), typically reminding them that they are mere mortal youngsters.

They don’t seem to be precisely the scariest or the fiercest antagonists within the DCEU — in reality, the horrible trio aren’t even characters from the comics, however maybe that is what works for Shazam! Fury of the Gods. 

Between the intense, darkish and mature tones of the DCEU and the ever so convoluted and increasing multiverse of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Shazam! Fury of the Gods is probably the very best superhero film proper now for informal viewers.

There is not any must make amends for previous films or TV reveals — we argue you’ll be able to nonetheless watch this sequel if you have not caught the primary film — and it’s so lighthearted and campy that you just nearly neglect that we have been experiencing superhero fatigue previously yr and a half. 

There isn’t any denying that Shazam! Fury of the Gods is formulaic, extremely depending on Gen-Z humour and has a couple of cringe moments — we’re speaking What makes you particular is you! kind of badly written dialogue, however it is a movie a few boy with the powers of an grownup, so do not anticipate an excessive amount of.

It isn’t as magical as the unique, and would not stick with the touchdown a number of occasions, however possibly that is why the DC Universe is getting a reboot, and we’re seeing what would not work as effectively. 

The costumes come off cosplay-ish, the characters are infantile and cartoon-ish and it is a bit of a multitude by the point we attain the third arc with its Sport of Thrones cum Greek Mythology 101 class battle between the Daughters of Atlas and the Shazamily, however boy is it a enjoyable journey.

The film would not take itself too significantly and it’s inspired that viewers do the identical as a way to have a superb time. In case you’re a movie snob or a comic book ebook purist, we reckon Shazam! Fury of the Gods won’t be your cup of tea however fact be informed no matter what superhero film you pay for, you may doubtless nonetheless really feel some form of fury. 

Campiness apart, Shazam! Fury of the Gods is filled with coronary heart. Very similar to the primary film, the sequel can be centered on the theme of household and the imposter syndrome Billy I-don’t-deserve-these-powers Batson faces.

This time, Billy is popping 18 and therefore ageing out of the foster care system. Too afraid to face what rising up would possibly imply, he holds on and grapples exhausting on no matter he at the moment has.

Maybe even too exhausting that members of the Shazamily are beginning to really feel slightly too suffocated, particularly with foster brother Freddy Freeman (Jack Dylan Grazer), whose solely need is to interrupt off from the pack and fly solo. 

Whereas Batson and Shazam actor Zachary Levi are the principle leads of the film, the highlight is shared amongst different actors and characters. We see extra pronounced roles and involvement from members of the Shazamily: Pedro (Jovan Armand, D.J. Cotrona), Darla (Religion Herman, Meagan Good), Mary (Grace Caroline Currey), Eugene (Ian Chen, Ross Butler) and Freddy (Grazer, Adam Brody) and really study much more about every of their personalities, pursuits and identities.

Grazer’s Freddy leaves essentially the most impression out of all of the characters along with his wise-crack sense of humour and sarcasm. Gal Gadot’s Marvel Girl additionally makes a few appearances, and effectively, we will not deny that every time the Princess of Themyscira comes on display, everybody else simply fades into the background. That is simply the facility of Diana Prince.

As satisfying as Shazam! Fury of the Gods is, DC followers akin to ourselves could depart feeling only a tad bit nervous. With all the main shifts and adjustments in DC such because the canning of Marvel Girl 3, departure of Henry Cavill and nobody in sight to refill the vacated Batman position, Shazam! Fury of the Gods leaves followers with extra questions than solutions as to the place the DCEU is heading subsequent.

Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam was meant to attach with the Shazam! movies however for the reason that antihero isn’t any extra in James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DCEU, a 3rd Shazam! film doesn’t appear promising, regardless of what the movie’s two post-credits would possibly recommend. 

Possibly Shazam! would possibly endure the identical destiny as Black Adam? Or possibly they’re going to be rebooted similar to what Gunn did with The Suicide Squad that includes the identical actors within the roles as soon as all of the beforehand greenlit films are out (aka The Flash, Blue Beetle)?

Possibly we’ll by no means know till the second we discover out. However till then, let’s take a web page from these infantile heroes and revel in what we have. After the years we have had, we certain as hell deserve it.

Overview rating

Abstract

Shazam! Fury of the Gods will not be the superhero film we want, however it’s the one we deserve.

After a tiring lengthy yr of superhero fatigue, this light-hearted, old-school and campy film is a breath of contemporary air that may hopefully stick by way of for the remainder of the DCEU.

Total — 7/10

Story — 7/10

Path — 7/10

Characterisation — 7/10

Geek Satisfaction — 7/10

ALSO READ: Shazam! sequel pits superhero foster youngsters towards formidable foes

This text was first printed in Geek Tradition.