Movie Reviews # 592: Shazam 2: Fury Of The Gods (2023)

Hi, everyone! Welcome to yet another session of movie reviewing. Today, we are going to be talking about the latest offering from the DC Comics Universe. This time, we get to see the one, and only Shazam return with his crew of Superman-like heroes that fly around, and consist of both male, and female characters. So now that they’re back to take on some new villains, let’s discuss the one, and only, Shazam 2: Fury Of The Gods.

Plot: Set two years after the events of the first film, two daughters of the Greek Titan god, Atlas, the oldest, known as Hespera (Hellen Mirren), and the middle daughter, Kalypso (Lucy Liu), steal an ancient staff that belonged to an ancient god, known as The Wizard (Djimon Hounsou). When Shazam (Zachary Levi), and his team read about these ancient gods, and goddesses, particularly Hesper, Kalypso, and a third daughter of Stlas named Anthea (aka Anne, and played by Rachel Zegler), and what they’re capable of, can they stop the three daughters from using the staff to unleash chaos between their realm, known as the Gods’ Realm, and Earth?

So now, after giving the last DC film, Black Adam, a B grade back in October of this past year. Was Shazam 2: Fury Of The Gods an improvement, or worse? Well, you all will be delighted to hear that Shazam 2 is an improvement. First of all, most of the characters are more fleshed out than they seemed to be in the first Shazam film that was released back in 2019. Also, we get to see more of Shazam’s family this time around. Oh, and DC seemed to go more of a Marvel route by putting in some rather clever comedy. Seeing as Marvel had some brilliant comedy in the past, I wouldn’t be surprised if DC films would become a good competitor to future Marvel superhero films, and force them to step up their game in terms of making better jokes, and more brilliant scripts in the future. Well, time will tell, that’s for sure. Anyway, the film provides a brilliant score by composer Christophe Beck (who surprisingly also scored in films like some of the Marvel superhero films like the Ant-Man movies, for example). Let me tell you, his score does not disappoint. Also, the soundtrack is really good. It was especially great to hear some of the songs play during certain perfect moments of the film. In addition to all of this, the action is phenomenal in this film. Not only that, but the climax ends up being one of the most creative ones that either a superhero film, or an action film period could ever have. Without spoiling how the climax goes down, let’s just say that it is astonishing how well executed it ends up being in the end. There is also a really good amount of heart in this film too, especially when it comes to fleshing most of the characters out, executing the action well, and having nice heartfelt messages such as not going along with actions that are wrong, and what family is truly about. Oh, and there’s a nice surprise twist ending as well.

So, are there any downsides to this film? Well, first of all, there was a character arc that occurred near the end that, let’s just say could have maybe had a little more buildup to it. Additionally, there were certain big moments in the beginning of the film that didn’t seem to make a whole lot of sense, and felt as if those were left unexplained even by the end of the film. Finally, the world building in regards to the Gods’ Realm could have probably been expanded upon. Sure, we get to have a little bit of taste of what that world is like. Still, we could have seen more of that world somehow, and some way.

And that’s my review for Shazam 2: Fury Of The Gods. Even though it’s not one the best DC films out there, it was certainly an improvement from previous ones like Black Adam, Batman Vs. Superman, and many other DC films that had been released over the past five, or ten years. I would say that if you liked the first Shazam film, and want to see this one, definitely do so. You’ll enjoy this sequel without a doubt. So, go see Shazam 2: Fury Of The Gods. It is well worth your time, and smelter seeing on the big screen.

Final Grade: B+