Warner Bros. Pictures presents Shazam! Fury of the Gods in UK cinemas from March 17, 2023.
Synopsis
Bestowed with the powers of the gods, Billy Batson and his fellow foster kids are still learning how to juggle teenage life with having adult Super Hero alter-egos. But when the Daughters of Atlas, a vengeful trio of ancient gods, arrive on Earth in search of the magic stolen from them long ago, Billy—aka Shazam—and his family are thrust into a battle for their superpowers, their lives, and the fate of their world.
Review
If ever there was a time to go big or go home then it’s the super hero sequel. It’s the time to introduce new characters, raise the stakes and above all, leave nothing behind in attempt to top what came before.
2019’s Shazam! introduced many in the audience to Billy Batson (Asher Angel) and his adult, super hero alter-ego (Zachary Levi). Originally known as Captain Marvel in the comics, the brilliant, heartfelt action-adventure saw the character reach new levels of popularity both on screen and in the pages of DC Comics. But after landing such a victory straight out of the gate, many wondered whether director David F. Sandberg and writer Henry Gayden, joined this time around by Chris Morgan, would be able to repeat their success.
Gayden and Morgan have thankfully done their best to hold on to what made the first film so successful. At its core Shazam! functioned incredibly well because it embraced the light-hearted nature of its characters. It bucked the trend for dour portrayals. Instead opting to tactfully handle Billy’s emotional journey as he searched for his mother and a place to call home.
Rather than simply repeat what came before, Shazam! Fury of the Gods takes Billy a step forwards. As a hero we see him struggling to be a leader. As a teenager he’s confronted by his impending 18th birthday and the impact that could have on his place in the Vásquez household. Both problems move fluidly between versions of the character and really underpin all of his decisions throughout the film. There’s also a new-found cohesiveness in the performances of both Levi and Angel. Both feel like reflections of each other. More so even than in the first film.
The teen drama side of the film is owned by Jack Dylan Grazer, arguably the runaway success story from Shazam!. His meteoric rise to fame hasn’t impacted his humility or his ability to get lost in the role. Like Billy, Freddy has moved on from where we left him three years ago and his struggles have changed. But Grazer plays him with the exact same innocence and wit which made him a standout to begin with. He easily has the most screen time of the “kids” and lights every scene on fire. Paired with Djimon Hounsou’s straight-man Wizard, Grazer is comedy gold.
Eugene (Ross Butler/Ian Chen) and Pedro (D.J. Cotrona/Jovan Armand) are somewhat overlooked in the already busy script. Alongside Rosa (Marta Milans) and Victor (Cooper Andrews) they are the supporting players. But Gayden, Morgan and Sandberg still make good on the promise to highlight Pedro’s sexuality. A plot point hinted at in the first film which is tactfully handled in a manner in-keeping with the film’s overall tone.
In fact, given there are 17 speaking roles amongst the core cast alone, the Shazam! Fury of the Gods script is incredibly well balanced. It’s amazing to think there is enough time in the 130 minute runtime to give motivation and back story to the Daughters of Atlas: Anthea (Rachel Zegler), Kalypso (Lucy Liu) and Hespera (Helen Mirren).
The three sisters pose an interesting threat to the Shazamily which ties to the first film and the source of everyone’s powers. Though it’s arguably a little convenient it allows the film to dispense with lengthy setup and get down to business pretty quickly. Gayden and Morgan’s script elevates the cartoonish villains with internal conflict which adds shades to grey to the world of good versus evil.
As it hurtles towards the inevitable third act battle, Shazam! Fury of the Gods throws everything at the screen. There’s the gigantic wooden dragon glimpsed in the trailers plus oodles of other mythical monsters. Even unicorns get in on the action. But whilst the scale grows exponentially, it never overshadows the humanity at its core. Neither does is suddenly reach beyond Philadelphia to become a world-ending, apocalyptic event.
The production itself is very capable. There’s a similar mix of practical and visual effects to the first film. Though there are moments which challenge the effectiveness of the budget it is never a slugfest of sub-par MCU graphics. Creature designs are excellent and build on the designs of the Seven Deadly Sins from the last film. It all feels connected which is something I really appreciate in a sequel. Going bigger doesn’t mean being different and that’s a pitfall which many comic book movie sequels fall in to.
Christophe Beck replaces Benjamin Wallfisch as the composer for Shazam! Fury of the Gods. Like many other aspects of the film, Beck builds on what came before to create something bigger, bolder and better. Several recurring motifs really amplify the emotions of the film with incredible gusto.
Not every film needs to break new ground. Audiences have forgotten there is no shame in simply enjoying a sequel which purely builds on what was enjoyable to begin with. In a market saturated with shark-jumping, confused attempts to recapture the glory days, a film like Shazam! Fury of the Gods deserves credit for sticking to its guns and providing fans with a solid, entertaining slice of escapism.
Verdict
Shazam! Fury of the Gods is so full of heart. Just like its predecessor the focus on family is at the core of what Sandberg and co. have produced and it’s equally as gripping. The stakes are higher and the monsters are scarier (and cooler)!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
