Review - Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)

         Hey guys, Chuck here, and I just got done watching the new movie Shazam! Fury of the Gods, the sequel to the 2019 film Shazam! from director David F. Sandberg. Directed once again by Sandberg, this movie sees the returns of cast members Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Grace Caroline Currey, Ross Butler, Adam Brody, Meagan Good, D.J. Cotrona, Marta Milans, Cooper Andrews, and Djimon Honsou, with newcomers including Rachel Zegler, Lucy Liu, and Helen Mirren, with a special cameo by Gal Gadot. 

       So, it's obviously been a few years since Billy Batson was chosen by the wizard Shazam and was granted the power of the Gods. And, of course he shared that power with his foster siblings Darla, Freddy, Pedro, Mary, and Eugene. So, in that time, things are going okay, but Billy is starting to slip away from his family, as they feel he's holding on too tight. This is when the Daughters of Atlas, Hespera, Anthea, and Kalypso, arrive to reclaim the power of the Gods from Billy and his siblings, and use the power to seek revenge against humanity. 

      Okay, some positives in this movie. First off, the acting was really good. Asher Angel as Billy, despite a lesser screen presence, was absolutely excellent, giving a very grounded and wholesome performance, which serves as a great counterbalance to the more goofy and over the top nature of Zachary Levi as Shazam. Jack Dylan Grazer is definitely fantastic as Freddy, as does Adam Brody as superhero Freddy, and he definitely serves as part of the emotional centerpiece in this movie. Grace Caroline Currey pulls double duty as Mary both in and out of superhero form, and she definitely delivers a stellar performance here. Both Marta Milans and Cooper Andrews get some real emotional scenes as Rosa and Victor, the foster parents of Billy and his siblings, and I especially loved a very emotional moment between Marta Milans' Rosa and Asher Angel's Billy. 

      Another major performance I enjoyed is Rachel Zegler as Anthea, and the connection she makes with Jack Dylan Grazer's Freddy. And after seeing this movie, I am more excited than ever about seeing Rachel Zegler in upcoming movies like Snow White and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the latter of which hits theaters this November. Now, both Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu are fantastic as Hespera and Kalypso, and don't let the ads fool ya, Lucy Liu is the main antagonist of this movie, and she plays evil with such delight that it's a lot of fun. And, of course, there's that cameo that some of the recent TV spots spoiled, and that's Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. And, for what little time we actually see her, it's definitely a highlight. 

        Now, unfortunately, with all of that good, there is some things that are not so good. The plot, unfortunately, is all over the place, and way too busy with overloading with mythology. I also think that the visual effects were also really busy, with a lot of creatures and bizarre designs that definitely feel a bit surreal. However, it's the action and the humor that stand out against the overcrowded mythology and amount of creatures throughout the movie. 

        The biggest takeaway from this movie, for me, is the themes of family, and the scenes with Billy and his siblings, Billy and the foster parents, and even the Daughters of Atlas, are easily the strongest point of the movie. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie for those moments, as well as the humor. I definitely recommend this movie, especially if you're a fan of the DC Universe. I'm giving Shazam! Fury of the Gods a rating of 4.55/5. 

      Alrighty guys, this is Chuck signing off. Join me later this evening for my review of the Mel Brooks comedy classic History of the World, Part I.