Director: David F. Sandberg
Writers: Henry Gayden, Chris Morgan, Bill Parker(Shazam created by)
Stars: Grace Caroline Currey, Zachary Levi, Helen Mirren, Rachel Zegler, Lucy Liu, Adam Brody, Meagan Good, Asher Angel, Djimon Hounsou
‘Shazam! Fury Of The Gods’ is the first film in the DCEU since James Gunn was announced to control the artistic vision and future of the DC film’s. When he took over he created a huge uproar when it was announced Henry Cavill would no longer be Superman, even after appearing in the epic film ‘Black Adam’. Gunn has made some interesting choices and decisions since his inception, so I was curious to see how the second installment of “Shazam” would turn out.
Picking up right where the first instalment left off, 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.
‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ finds Billy questioning his status as a superhero and facing a lot of uncertainty. He doesn’t feel he deserves his powers and struggles to lead his band of heroes, all while feeling undeserving of place in his foster family. It’s a lot for a kid I guess in any capacity to deal with, but he stands up when he is called upon to battle the evil dwellings of Hespera (Mirren) and Kalypso (Liu), the Daughters of Atlas who show up and are ready to destroy Shazam, his family, and the human race to get what they want.
This film is constantly elevated by its younger stars. Grazer, as Freddy Freeman brings a refreshing dose of heart and humanity to the storyline. You become so engrossed in his storyline you don’t want it to end. Angel is another powerhouse but I felt this film failed to utilize him for much of its runtime. Never the less ‘Shazam! Fury Of The Gods’ is a funny and entertaining film and when it gets on a roll it’s an absolute blast.
As a fan of the DC Universe (yes I prefer it to Marvel, so sue me lol Go Batman! lol), you have to wait until the very end of the movie. It permeated a lot of questions for me, and I’m just going to leave it at that. This movie is a great popcorn flick, and carries all the heart, entertainment and laughs you could expect from it. It’s a must watch for any comic book fan.
‘Shazam! Fury Of The Gods’ is out now.
Email: neill@outloudculture.com
