Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) Review

Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)

Given the current state of the DCEU and its most recent restructure, Shazam! Fury of the Gods may feel like a pointless venture in an attempt to strip the Zach Snyder cinematic carcass of all that remains, but despite a few issues here and there, S!FOTG (as noone is calling it) keeps up with its predecessor and easily slots in as one of the better films within the flailing franchise.

Set after the events of the first film, the story picks up with the family now used to their powers and going about the daily grind as superheros. Not quite as successful as they’d hoped to be, the city they protect has labelled them a menace and the gang has started to buckle under the weight of superhero ego's. This leaves Billy (Shazam number one) feeling the pressure of keeping the team, a team!

While things fall apart, the villain - or in this case, villains - rise. The Sisters of Atlas, a group of Gods from way back when, have broken free of their realm and want revenge on the humans and wizards of the past for imprisoning them and taking their magic. Happenstance would have it that this very magic is the very same power coursing through the family's veins, so it's not soon before long that the evil siblings turn their gaze towards the newly anointed heroes.

David F. Sandberg is once again in the director's chair and manages to bring the same sense of fun that the first instalment fully embraced. One trait these films have in their favour is that they stand separate from melodrama, functioning in a similar way to Marvel's Ant Man films, and fully aware that they are, in fact, the B-team heroes of their respective universes. Sandberg is keenly aware of this too and takes every step to take advantage of this niche; whether it's undermining the villain, laughing at the heroes own expense or even daring to crossover with the wider world they inhabit, Sandberg isn't afraid to kick back, crack a joke and let the audience come along for the ride.

For all its jokes though, there can be no mistake Fury of the Gods is made by an avid horror aficionado. Don't get it twisted, this film is funny but it's also dark. Real dark in fact. To the point where there's even a blink and you'll miss it Anabelle doll in one of the opening frames (a nod to Annabelle: Creation - easily one of his better films in the Conjuring universe). It's this light and dark contrast that gives the film an edge, turning mild threat into full on dread, and it's this that not only sets it apart from the competition, but is where it's able to thrive on its own and not rely on a broader universe to get people watching.

Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)

Despite its best efforts however, it's definitely not perfect. The story is frustratingly complicated and needs a LOT of exposition just to fill you in on what's happening. No joke, there's so much back story that even the characters in the film need the help of a sentient biro to dictate to them what's happening. It's cumbersome and plottty and bogs the film down, when all you really want to do is mindlessly switch off. 

It's actually this that leads to what is probably the film's biggest flaw; it forgets that it's a film about family. The heart and soul of the original was centered around Billy Batson, a foster kid lost to the system, but eventually finds a family to call his own. It's this moral that sits at the heart of the first film but one that seems to get lost here once the bombastic action kicks in. Sure, everyone is accounted for, but aside from being a family, the film does little to explore it in any way shape or form. An example of this is seen in the opening few scenes, where the narrative alludes to some trouble in paradise for the super family, but it's never really explored in any any depth and as such, loses some of the heart the original film had in spades.

So where does this leave my final thoughts; well, there are issues all over the place but ultimately it's a film that most audiences will enjoy. Its strength is that it's not vying to be the next Dark Knight or Avengers Endgame, it's just looking to have a laugh and bring you along for the journey with a box of popcorn in tow. Given the restructure of the DCEU, it's more than likely Shazam! will be next in line for the chopping block to make room for James Gunn's vision. and that’s a shame as its a rare part of the outgoing franchise that was perfectly enjoyable!