FilmSnobReviews

Title: Shazam! Fury of the Gods
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: David F. Sandberg
Starring: Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Helen Mirren
Runtime: 2 hrs 10 mins

What It Is: Following our normally pint sized hero Billy Batson (Angel) and his exploits as superhero Shazam (Levi). He alongside all of his superpowered step-siblings are going around saving the people of Philadelphia. But because of the ending of the first film three vengeful sisters seek to find the Tree of Life and restore it and they’re godlike spritis back to normal. But what’s the endgame for the villainous goddess hellbent on revenge?

What We Think: This script is a mess. Character intentions are dropped or changed at the drop of a hat. There’s so much wasted talent. Something that’s at this point become the hallmark of DC film universe. Zachary Levi has lost his plot as this character and what was a somewhat charming buffoon has lost his charm. Helen Mirren has nothing interesting to do or say, Lucy Liu seems to be here for the paycheck and poor Rachel Ziegler obviously agreed to this pre-West Side Story. This film was such an empty vessel. Something filled in by fluff and air. There’s no reason to watch this.

Our Grade: D, Don’t bother. It isn’t a complete failure but it is a series of missteps that don’t result in anything worthwhile. The time for DC’s universe might have past…we’ll have to see how Blue Beetle and The Flash go. As it stands I think I’m about done and over with Shazam! as a character. They’ve truly lost it and I don’t know that it’ll be coming back any time soon, at least not for this character. This is a definite skip, at least for this critic. It’s also a concerning decline for DC comics universe.