As we all know, Shazam! Fury of the Gods is one of the latest installments in the DC Extended Universe, which began with Man of Steel in 2013. James Gunn and Peter Safran are now at the helm of the franchise and are busy planning their new DC Universe. While it is uncertain whether Zachary Levi will reprise his role as Shazam in this new DCU, fans are hoping he will, as Shazam! Fury of the Gods is one of the most enjoyable DC movies in recent years.
The movie takes place a few years after the events of the first Shazam! and reunites us with Billy Batson and his adoptive family, who all possess the powers of Shazam. However, they are not well-liked in Philadelphia and are often referred to as the "Philadelphia Fiascos". Things take a turn for the worse when the Daughters of Atlas, Hespera, Kalypso, and Anthea, arrive and attempt to steal their powers after obtaining the Wizard's staff in Athens. Billy and his family must band together to stop them and save not only Philadelphia, but also the world.
One major criticism of the film is that there are a lot of different plotlines and characters, so the story sometimes feels rushed. The filmmakers try to give each character equal attention, but some of the siblings, such as Eugene, Mary, and Pedro, are left out at times. This was to be expected, however, with the introduction of three antagonists in the Daughters of Atlas.
Zachary Levi continues to be the perfect choice to play Shazam, while Asher Angel impresses as Billy. He has grown since the first film, and his deeper voice suits the role. Jack Dylan Grazer remains a scene-stealer and delivers a fantastic performance, while Adam Brody gets more to do this time around and does well.
The Daughters of Atlas are a good choice for the antagonists, but only one of them truly emerges as the villain (which we won't spoil here). Helen Mirren appears to be having a blast as Hespera, much like in the Fast and Furious movies, while Lucy Liu is excellent as Kalypso and has great chemistry with Mirren. However, the standout of the trio is Rachel Zegler as Anthea; she is a rising star and has natural chemistry with everyone on screen, especially Grazer.
In conclusion, Shazam! Fury of the Gods is definitely worth checking out in theaters. It is one of the most enjoyable and entertaining DC films in recent years, with plenty of humor, action, and heart from the entire Shazamily. Fans hope to see them return in the future, and it remains to be seen whether James Gunn and Peter Safran can find a way to incorporate them into their new DCU. All in all, it's all or none!
Rating: 7/10
