By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
Zachary Levi ("American Underdog") is back as the acerbic superhero Shazam in the action packed, adventure comedy,
"Shazam! Fury of the Gods."
David Sandberg who directed 2019's "Shazam!" is at the helm of this sequel which picks up a few years after the original film. This time around our man Shazam (Levi) is questioning his worthiness and that he's suffering from "Imposter Syndrome." He's sprawled out on a couch in an office spilling his soul to a psychiatrist (P.J. Byrne, "Babylon"), but turns out the doctor is really a pediatrician.
Shazam is concerned that Billy Batson (Asher Angel, "Darby & The Dead") is nearing adulthood and his beloved foster siblings Freddy Freeman (Jack Dylan Grazer ("It Chapter Two")/Adam Brody, TV's Fleishman is in Trouble"), Darla Dudley (Faithe Herman ("TV's "This is Us"/Meagan Good, TV's "Harlem"), Eugene Choi (Ian Chen, TV's "Fancy Nancy"/Ross Butler, "TV's "Swimming with Sharks") Mary Bromfield (Grace Caroline Currey, "Annabelle Creation" ), and Pedro Peña (Jovan Armand, TV's "Snowfall"/D. J. Cotrona, TV's "LA's Finest") are all moving on with their lives and things just won't be the same between them.
The gang are all working to avert calamities and help those in need, but they've seemed to lost a step in the process. The group also has to deal with the embarrassment of their new nickname, "The Philadelphia Fiascos."
However, their most daunting challenge are the Daughters of Atlas. This ancient Goddess trio consists of Hespera (a scene-stealing Helen Mirren, "Golda"), Kalypso (Lucy Liu, TV's "Curb Your Enthusiasm"), and Anthea (Rachel Zegler, "West Side Story").
They're out to avenge the death of their father and conquer the Earth. First, they need to get their magic back from the wicked Wizard (Djimon Hounsou, "Black Adam") who stole the powers of Atlas and gave it to the kids. They will stop at nothing to have their way including bringing out some ferocious beasts and creatures to wreak havoc all over Philadelphia.
Screenwriters Henry Gayden ("Shazam!") and Chris Morgan ("Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw") up the action in "Shazam! Fury of the Gods" and the film serves up a smattering of perfectly timed humor from Levi and the kids.
I didn't expect much from the first "Shazam" movie yet was pleasantly surprised with it. Same with "Shazam! Fury of the Gods." It's a lively, adventurous romp and is bolstered when a DC Comics character appears.
In addition, this 12th installment of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) seems to have a bright future based on the film's two end credits that you'll want to stick around to see.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays now at 5:17 p.m. and 6:47 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Look At This Trailer For
"SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
