‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ Movie Review

Shazam! Fury of the Gods Movie Review

It’s been a minute since I saw a DC movie that I truly enjoyed. Though, I’m happy to report that Shazam! Fury of the Gods is an exception. It’s a fun, lighthearted adventure that knows when to take itself seriously and when to poke fun at itself and the superhero genre. 

A sequel to the 2019 movie, this flick picks up right where the first left off and ramps up the action tenfold. The story of Billy Batson continues to play out as we see how Billy and his fellow foster family are balancing being teenagers while being bestowed with the powers of the gods. 

Things are seeming going well for Billy, who, upon reciting the magic word “SHAZAM!,” is transformed into his adult Super Hero alter-ego, Shazam. However, 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 Movie Trailer

Shazam! Fury of the Gods Movie Review: What I Did and Didn’t Like

With a 2-hour and 10-minute run time, Shazam! Fury of the Gods packs a lot in. Yet, nothing feels rushed or unfinished. Instead, the steady pacing allowed for a perfect blend of action sequences and character development.

Acting

The cast did a solid job of delivering their respective characters. Zachary Levi reprised his role as the adult version of Billy Batson and continued to be both charismatic and charming as Shazam. Asher Angel, who embodied the teenage version of Billy, also did a great job of mirroring Levi’s mannerisms and quirks.

The Daughters of Atlas were portrayed by Rachel Zegler, Lucy Lui, and Helen Mirren. They all did a fantastic job at making their characters, who were the film’s villains, menacing and relatable.

Other standouts include Faithe Herman as Darla Dudley, Jack Dylan Grazer as Freddy Freeman, Adam Brody as Super Hero Freddy, and Djimon Hounsou as Shazam. All of these talented actors brought life to their characters and gave them depth on screen.

Shazam! Fury of the Gods Movie Review
Photo Credit: Warner Brothers

Script

The film’s script was well written, providing each character with proper time and attention. Additionally, the dialogue was cleverly constructed, which is arguably the most enjoyable part of the movie.

The comedic moments balance out the more serious scenes with ease. And the more heartfelt moments dealing with love, family, and friendship exist effortlessly in the background, which creates a nice symmetry with all the intense action sequences.

Shazam 2 Cast
Photo Credit: Warner Brothers

Overall Thoughts

Shazam! Fury of the Gods is a breath of fresh air in the DC universe. In fact, its lightheartedness and witty banter almost make it feel like a Marvel film.

All in all, the movie delivers a fun spin on the genre. Watching Billy deal with his imposter syndrome, seeing Freddy develop a crush on a 6,000-year-old god, and witnessing countless scenes of Darla’s adorable innocence make for what feels like a YA (Young Adult) movie. Yet, the film is still able to tackle some serious themes as well, including loss, power, and loyalty.

Also, having filmed in Atlanta, Georgia – there’s no shortage of recognizable local spots for residents of the city. From Castleberry street scenes to Summerhill lunch spots, the film makes good use of all Atlanta has to offer when it comes to filming. And as an Atlanta resident myself, who actually encountered this one filming multiple times in 2021, it’s just super cool to see.

Overall, Shazam! Fury of the Gods is an enjoyable movie that fans of DC and superhero movies will love. It’s a fun adventure with plenty of action and heartwarming moments. The characters are well-developed and charismatic, the story is captivating, and the action sequences are a lot of fun.

Shazam! Fury of the Gods Movie Review:

Grade: A-

Shazam! Fury of the Gods 60-Second Movie Review:

Note: FanBolt’s Featured Image is fan art created by FanBolt purely for the love of design and fan culture. (We’re movie and design nerds). The property and fandom inspire the artwork, and no infringement is/was intended. Shazam! is the property of Warner Brothers.

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