'Shazam! Fury of the Gods' Review: Growing Up Has Never Been So Fun
DC’s Goofy, lovable superhero has returned to the silver screen in shazam! fury of the gods, a sequel that is able to take the training wheels off and let the character truly fly.
2019’s Shazam! was a refreshing change of pace for DC, delivering a warm, lively, and very funny superhero film following its dark, gritty predecessors. After defeating the villainous Dr. Sivana in the original film, Billy Batson (Asher Angel) and his family of fellow superheroes are trying their best to keep their city safe, albeit with some serious growing pains. However, they’re faced with their most daunting threat yet when the daughters of Atlas threaten to destroy our world and restore theirs.
From the opening scene alone, it’s clear that David F. Sandberg, returning to helm this sequel, wants to deliver a darker installment with substantially higher stakes. Sandberg, who is well-known for his horror background, is more than up to the task, delivering a bigger, bolder sequel with a larger visual scope and compelling emotional stakes. Unlike the first film, where there was a struggle in balancing the lighter and darker elements of the story, this follow-up thankfully doesn’t suffer from that problem. The film toes the line between the humor and the drama wonderfully, its darker elements fitting in well within the context of this particular story.
The sequel also makes the wise choice of giving its core characters more depth and appealing arcs. Billy and Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer) are given far more to do here, each of them rising to the occasion and delivering fantastic performances. Billy is trying to come to terms with the fact he’s about to age out of the foster system and possibly be kicked out by his foster parents, in addition to suffering from a nasty case of imposter syndrome as Shazam. As for Freddy, now that he has superpowers of his own, he wants to be able to have his own independence and carve his own path without Billy controlling his every move. The subtle friction that develops between the two is well-established and portrayed by Angel and Grazer, leading to some of the film’s most powerful scenes.
As for Zachary Levi, he continues to shine as the titular character. He remains as charming and likable as ever, never doubting for a second he’s a teenager inhabiting an adult superhero’s body. Levi also gets to tackle far more meatier material here, showing off his dramatic chops that have been unfortunately underutilized throughout his career. As for the new additions to the cast, Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu, and Rachel Zegler are having the time of their lives as the daughters of Atlas. The three have terrific chemistry with one another, playing off one another well and elevating each other throughout. These are three sisters whose relationships with one another are brittle to say the least, a snide comment or hasty action able to turn them against one another in a flash.
For fans hoping for more action and spectacle will not be disappointed with this sequel. Sandberg appears far more confident behind the camera, particularly during the action scenes, which are far more visually stunning and well-staged than in the original film. The set pieces are colorful, exciting, and immersive, especially the climactic battle sequence that proves this is a sequel that isn’t afraid to head into some darker, more mature territory for its characters. Aside from a handful of spotty CGI, the visual effects are gorgeous and a considerable step up from the first film.
However, the film’s best asset is its heart, which it wears firmly and earnestly on its sleeve. This is a sequel the highlights the importance of family and what one is willing to do in order to protect it. Billy has become even closer with his family after the events of the first film, willing to do anything and everything in order to protect them from harm. His scenes with them are the highlight of the film, the supporting cast delivering stellar work and showcasing a well-earned dynamic. This gives the film substantial emotional stakes, especially when the daughters of Atlas begin targeting Billy’s family in order to take away their powers. The emotional payoff of this sequel is far more effective, finally having Billy earn his superhero status in way that feels wholly satisfying.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a sequel without its flaws. While the film can be very funny at times, there is a fair amount of jokes that simply don’t land and crash with a thud. There are a handful of scenes where it feels as if the cast is straining to sell underwhelming jokes that desperately needed some re-writes. Also, while the daughters of Atlas are certainly fun to watch on screen, they don’t get much development. The film only scratches the surface of their history and what they’ve been through, never exploring it fully. A flashback or two could’ve easily remedied this issue in order to effectively get the audience to understand their emotional point of view.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods is a sequel that isn’t concerned with setting the stage for what’s to come in the DCEU, delivering a fun, colorful, emotionally compelling story that is sure to please fans of the original and new fans alike. It may not be perfect, but it absolutely confirms that this character and his family of fellow superheroes are one of the DC’s finest assets. Growing up is difficult, but it’s rarely this much fun to watch.