wfirst installment of Shazam! Revealed in 2019, it was hailed as a departure from the moody, dark storylines of the DC Extended Universe. Shazam was a hero who didn’t take himself too seriously – a real kid in an adult’s body. The sequel keeps the best parts of its predecessor intact.
At the end of Shazam!, Billy (Zachary Levi, Asher Angel) gives his foster siblings the same power he has. In Shazam! fury of the godsThey risk losing it because the world is falling apart.
The humor is the highlight of the film, but its biggest advantage is that it keeps the plot simple. While world-building was the fuel for the DCEU’s Marvel counterpart to soar, the multiverse has made watching the movies a daunting task, you need to do your homework. right here Shazam! What shines, too, is that not having a Black Adam cameo is a smart move.
The antagonists, the Daughters of Atlas (Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu, and Rachel Ziegler), are formidable, though the simple plot reveals little about them or their motivations. A good villain propels the plot forward, but the trio we get ring hollow – they become what the story needs them to be.
If you leave the critical thinking behind, VFX makes up for the lack of meat in the script. The gnarly creatures are drawn with great detail, and it’s hard to take your eyes off the mighty dragon. Once again, where Marvel is slipping, DC wins.
all or none
David F. directed by sandberg Shazam! fury of the gods At its core is the family. One of six foster children, Billy has abandonment issues and impostor syndrome, both of which are woven into the story – ‘all or none’ is the slogan of these siblings with superpowers.
The plot revolves around the ‘magic of the gods’ which turns them into their adult versions. The gods want it back, and want to destroy humanity in the process. This is your standard comic book story template.
What makes it stand out is how it fares against other films of its genre. When the first part came out, it was touted as DC’s answer to the MCU’s Guardians of the Galaxy – Funny and warm. Now, when the efforts of the latter have failed – think thor: love and thunder (2022)- Shazam! fury of the gods Standing strong.
It doesn’t pull punches, the fights have massive effects, and VFX plays a vital role. The acting may not be Oscar-worthy, but the emotion pulls at the right heartstrings without taking away from the action.
It will make you laugh, humor is not an afterthought. There are many pop culture references – harry potter, game of Thrones, and more than one nod to Marvel. And these references are no Easter eggs—you don’t need to find them or have special insider knowledge to understand them and laugh.
there are times when the humor is in Shazam! fury of the gods Can be a bit heavy-handed, but some meta-humor is thrown in before it can even divert your attention. A good example is when Shazam says, “There’s no way the song was playing when I saved you”, as he saves the woman in the falling car while Bonnie Tyler holding out for a hero plays on the radio.
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trailer trouble
The cameo that fans were waiting for will happen before the credits roll. The build-up and pay-off are worth it.
But stick with it till the end, there are two post-credits scenes. These are easter eggs for comic book fans. However, there is no promise to build yet.
The fate of the world is left ambiguous in the film, and the next film, if there is one, could be setting itself up for failure by not going into the details of the world-building. There’s only so much of a universe that can be built on the backs of hollow villains and sparse backstories.
On a side note, my biggest complaint with Shazam! Not with the actual film but with its trailer. It kills the best part of a comic book movie – the hype.
The details of the final showdown, right down to the final shock and even the last scene of the film are revealed in the trailer. The latest TV spot also delivers the biggest cameo. If you want to enjoy this electrifying superhero showdown, best to skip the promo material.
(Edited by Hamra Like)