Movie Review: Shazam! Fury of the Gods

Shazam! Fury of the Gods
March 16, 2023
Directed By: David F. Sandberg
Writing Credits: Henry Gayden (written by), Chris Morgan (written by), Bill Parker (Shazam created by), and C. C. Beck (Shazam created by).
Cast: Zachery Levi, Jack Dylan Grazer, Adam Brody, Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu, Rachel Zegler, Asher Angel, Meagan Good, Djimon Hounsou, Ross Butler, D.J. Cotrona, Cooper Andrews, Marta Milans, Jovan Pena, Grace Caroline Currey, Faithe Herman, Ian Chen. Gia Gadot (Wonder Woman) makes an appearance too.
Music: Christophe Beck
Production Company: New Line Cinema, D.C. Entertainment, Warner Bros.
Running Time: 2 hours, 16 minutes
Genre: Comic book hero, fantasy.
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The film continues the story of teenage Billy Batson who, upon reciting the magic word "SHAZAM!" is transformed into his adult Super Hero alter ego, Shazam.

Billy Batson (Captain Marvel—as that is his name in the comics in 1941 and one point, a person in street calls him that!) and his fellow Shazam heroes and family don’t know it, by three goddesses are after them, angry that the god power their father, Atlas, had in a staff, was stolen and put in one mortal child from Earth by a wizard. They have the wizard in a prison, and have stolen the broken parts of the staff from Acropolis Museum, killing most of the guards and humans visiting in there, even making many into statues. In Philadelphia, Billy with his foster siblings save people on a collapsing bridge but are called out for the destruction. At home, everyone is drifting apart due to them growing older and having personal interests. Billy is worried about being kicked out of the Vasquez family after turning 18 and aging out of the foster system. In a dream, as Shazam, Billy is warned by the Wizard about the daughters of Atlas. Billy and his siblings then do research on the daughters.

The first movie was good. This one not so much, but then again, it is a comic book superhero movie. We have the actions of teens, even when they are "adult" superheroes. Billy is close to 18 years old and has to think about the future out of the foster program. Job or college. He must grow up sometime. And sometimes Billy tries to get his family together to do something about the Daughters of Atlas, but then goes back to being the immature teen. Until the ultimate battle (and I did love this.). 

If you are looking for Shakespeare and a serious movie, then look elsewhere. But if you are looking for a couple of hours of a popcorn movie, then this is it. Non-spoiler (I won’t talk about them, but stay until the end.) There are two clips, one right after the end of the film--before the credits--and one at the end of the credits.

I give Shazam! Fury of the Gods 3 1/2 superhero sheep.

Reviewed by Pamela K. Kinney