Shazam! Fury of the Gods brings a lot more heart to the story of Billy Batson and his family, as they’re not only learning about how to be better heroes with their powers but also how to maintain their relationships with each other while also allowing each other to grow independently. The threat of the Daughters of Atlas is a true test for how far Billy has come as a hero and leader. Lucy Liu absolutely kills it as the fearsome Kalypso as she shows no hesitation in doing what is necessary to reclaim the power of the gods from these mortal children.
Visually, the film seems to take a page from Dr. Strange as reality-bending physics play a role in multiple scenes as the characters traverse the mystic temple that is the Rock of Eternity. Across the slate of live-action DC superhero films out there, Shazam! is known for being on the much more light-hearted side of things with a natural warmth to it as the stories center on a child (or children this time around) being bestowed with the power of the gods in order to stand up against evil alongside other heroes. That being said, Fury of the Gods dares to cross certain boundaries at times in order to increase the stakes while continuing to ground the plot with a persistent innocence to it all.
While only time will tell if and how Shazam! Fury of the Gods fits into the new DC Studios, fans should still see this film and enjoy what the cast and crew have put together. If watching every trailer and available sneak peek is in your habits, then you may possibly already be aware of certain payoffs that will be in this film that the previous film felt short of. Catch Shazam! Fury of the Gods in theaters on March 17, 2023.
