“Shazam! Fury of the Gods” delivers a thunderous blow to the hopes of replicating the success of its predecessor, establishing that this comedic superhero franchise may have been a one-hit wonder. While the original film’s playful origin story garnered acclaim, the sequel struggles to generate the same excitement, even with the addition of high-profile villains.
The 2019 introduction to the character showcased the transformation of teenage Billy Batson (Asher Angel) into the muscular superhero portrayed by Zachary Levi. The joyous exploration of newfound powers and the camaraderie with foster brother Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer) served as the original’s main allure. However, “Fury of the Gods” faces challenges as it picks up with all foster kids possessing similar abilities, with Billy now grappling with the fear of turning 18 and venturing into adulthood.
The plot takes a swift turn from earthly concerns to an existential threat, featuring the daughters of Atlas invading Earth to reclaim their lost realm. Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu bring gravitas to their roles, but the film struggles to maintain the charm that Levi injected into his character, Captain Whoever, with a running gag on the absence of a formal superhero name.
Rachel Zegler (“West Side Story”) joins the cast as a new student, catching the eye of Freddy. Despite the inclusion of pyrotechnics, fantastic creatures, and a visually impressive dragon, the film’s closing-credit sequences reflect its overall shortcomings, feeling too forced and cute for their own good.
Directed by David F. Sandberg and penned by Henry Gayden and Chris Morgan, the movie maintains an affection for DC comics and the broader universe. However, it seems that DC may have overexploited this particular franchise, with diminishing returns and questionable decisions, such as giving Black Adam his stand-alone movie.
Mirren’s presence adds a touch of seriousness, but even her character implies skepticism with a line like, “You’re wasting my time.” This harsh critique resonates as the film, despite its fast pace, fails to live up to the “Fury” promised in its title. The lightning that once struck has dimmed, leaving the audience with a sequel that falls short of its electrifying predecessor.
