By Marc Butterfield
GO SEE IT!
Most sequels have a tough enough job just living up to their first movie, and this one would have had a big enough job just being a sequel to the original SHAZAM! What director David F. Sandberg’s first movie had was the novelty of the story of a boy having the power to just speak a magic word and finding himself in his now adult “ultimate form”, plus the power of being nearly Superman’s equal (some would argue even more), a fun novelty super hero movie. The story also had the subplot of young Billy Batson’s quest to find his mother after having been in foster homes his whole life, only to realize that the foster home he is in has provided him with the family he really needed by the end of the movie. In the end, he creates the Shazam family, with each of his foster siblings granted portions of the power he now wields. That last reveal was a moment that got applause from the audience, a moment that created a team, and cemented the family dynamic.
In SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS, the kids have been together for a couple of years now, fighting as a super team, but still not having the respect of the city they call home, as well as some stress from within the team, just as a possibly world ending threat (in the form of the daughters of Atlas) has manifested itself and is now heading to Philadelphia to take their powers. It’s at this point that the story kicks in to high-gear, and each member of the team shows their individual strength, in particular Freddy (played again by Jack Dylan Glazer) and they show that while their powers are what made them a super team, their real strengths lie in their skills and personalities, and their dedication to each other as family. This sequel is in every way superior to its predecessor, despite what others would tell you. Sure, the originality of the original premise can’t be duplicated, but the team dynamic and love they show for each other more than makes up for it.
In one scene, the young superheroes and a herd of Unicorns bond together to save the day in one the most endearing moments of the film. Sandberg along with writers Henry Gayden (“Shazam!,” “There’s Someone Inside Your House”) and Chris Morgan (“Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw,” “The Fate of the Furious”), make great use of Skittles and the tagline “Taste The Rainbow”.
Caption: (L-r) FAITHE HERMAN as Darla Dudley, JOVAN ARMAND as Pedro Pena, IAN CHEN as Eugene Choi and GRACE CAROLINE CURREY as Mary Bromfield in New Line Cinema’s action adventure “SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
Caption: (L-r) IAN CHEN as Eugene Choi, GRACE CAROLINE CURREY as Mary Bromfield and JOVAN ARMAND as Pedro Pena in New Line Cinema’s action adventure “SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
The humor from the original is all there, with enough pop-culture easter eggs and references for the keen-eyed to notice and pick up on (I’m talking to you, Annabelle), but there is also the serious work of showing what real heroism would look like, since a near invulnerable hero isn’t brave if there is no danger to him or her, but because they have to do something that could cost them everything just to save their city and their family. There are cameos that will make you cheer, and monsters aplenty to offer real danger to the citizens so that the heroes need to be a-heroing even when not in their Shazam bodies.
Joining director Sandberg behind-the-camera are director of photography Gyula Pados (the “Jumanji” franchise), production designer Paul Kirby (“The Old Guard,” “Jason Bourne”) and editor Michel Aller (“Shazam!,” “The Nun”). The music supervisor is Season Kent (“DC League of Super-Pets,” “The Addams Family 2”) and the music is by Christophe Beck (“Free Guy,” “Frozen II”). Visual effects supervisors are Bruce Jones (“Aquaman,” “It”) and Raymond Chen (“Alita: Battle Angel,” “The Meg”). The costume designer is Louise Mingenbach (“Jumanji: The Next Level,” “Godzilla: King of the Monsters”).
The movie is a must watch if you ever loved Captain Marvel (his original name before a major goof up decades ago, not to be confused with Carol Danvers) and an even bigger must-see if you love the DC characters and the DC universe, along with (maybe?) some hints that the newly minted DC Gunn-iverse may be going.
And great things are in store for fans. The next movies coming from WB/DCEU are The Flash in June, Blue Beetle in August, and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom on Christmas Day.
Do not miss this movie, it’s a good time for everyone.
3.5 out of 4 stars
Now for the spoilers and Easter Eggs… Turn back now if you want to be surprised.
Cameos to watch for are:
“Man on the Street” Michael Gray – The OG Billy Batson from the tv show of the 1970’s. He’s even wearing the same color on the shirt!
The Annabelle Creation poster in Billy’s bedroom, and the Annabelle and Raggedy Ann doll in the pediatrician’s office. Annabelle also popped up in the first movie. David Sandberg directed Annabelle: Creation.
Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman appears at the end.
The mid-credits scene features appearances from two significant DC characters: Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) and John Economos (Steve Agee). Both made their debut in The Suicide Squad and appear in Peacemaker, with Harcourt also popping up in Black Adam. They both work with Amanda Waller, played by Viola Davis in the DCU. https://www.gamesradar.com/shazam-fury-of-the-gods-cameo-list-wonder-woman/
Steve Agee
Harcourt and Economos show up to recruit Shazam into the Justice Society at Waller’s request; she thinks he’d make a good addition to the line-up. At first, Billy is overjoyed at the thought of becoming a member of the Justice League – until it’s clarified which of the two teams he’d be joining. Some jokes about renaming the Justice Society follow, with Billy eventually settling on the Avengers Society. For some reason, we can’t imagine that one sticking… The Justice Society of America were introduced in Black Adam, comprised of Noah Centineo’s Atom Smasher, Quintessa Swindell’s Cyclone, Aldis Hodge’s Hawkman, and Pierce Brosnan’s Doctor Fate. Considering the future of the DCU won’t include Black Adam for the foreseeable future, it’s unclear whether the Justice Society tease in Shazam 2 will ever pay off. But, there is a TV show about Amanda Waller included in the Chapter One slate, so we will most likely be seeing more of Harcourt and Economos (along with Waller herself, of course). Peacemaker season 2 is also still coming, though Gunn has confirmed it will be coming after Waller.
Jennifer Holland
