SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS

Zachary Levi as Shazam

SHAZAM: FURY OF THE GODS (2023). Director: David F. Sandberg.

Two goddesses, Hespera (Helen Mirren) and Kalypso (Lucy Liu), are furious that Billy Batson (Asher Angel) was given the power that they feel rightfully belonged to their father, Atlas, and hence to them. They cause havoc in a museum in Greece, turning several tourists to stone, and shattering the likable museum guide to pieces. (Leaning of this, our heroes don't seem as appalled as they should be, and there is no talk of finding out if the victims' rock-like state can be reversed.) A third sister, Anthea (Rachel Zegler), is kinder and gentler and bonds with Billy's brother, Freddy Freeman (Jack Dylan Grazer) and his super-hero alter ego (Adam Brody). Turning into his own super-hero counterpart, now christened Shazam (Zachary Levi) instead of Captain Marvel (for copyright reasons), Billy Batson gathers together the other children in his family, and they transform into their super-powered counterparts in order to take on not only Hespera and Kalypso, but a host of demonic creatures and a huge, malevolent dragon named Ladon.

Mortgage payment? Helen Mirren and Lucy Lui

This sequel to Shazam, which itself was no world-beater, is a cut below the original. Although Billy Batson is now nearly 18, when he switches to Shazam he acts much more childish and nerdy than he does as himself. Zachary Levi gives an adept-enough comic performance, but while the Captain Marvel stories of the 40s were pretty silly, there's no reason to make this modern movie quite so ridiculous. (The far superior Black Adam was cut from the same universe more or less but it rarely descends into camp. Here's hoping that Shazam does not join the Justice Society!) Helen Mirren and Lucy Lui, especially the former, give excellent performances (as does Rachel Zegler as their sister), but one has to wonder why an actress of Mirren's stature chose to appear in this shit. A mortgage coming due?

Ladon the dragon has no personality

Another problem with the movie is that the action sequences are not put together that well, the cinematography is disappointing (there isn't one single strikingly composed shot), and even the over-familiar special effects fail to impress -- you've seen it all before, and better. The movie is full of phony sentimentality -- so much hugging and crying while the original victims are completely forgotten. Shazam! Fury of the Gods wears out its welcome about halfway through -- you just wait for the damn thing to end.

Verdict: How much silliness can you stand. *1/2. 

SHAZAM

Zachary Levi as Captain Marvel/Shazam

SHAZAM (2019). Director: David F. Sandberg. 

Young trouble maker Billy Batson (Asher Angel) has been searching for his birth mother ever since she lost him at a fairground years before. Now age 14. he is in foster care. Running from a couple of bullies, he winds up in a cavern off of the subway, and encounters an elderly wizard (originally called Shazam), who tells him he is pure of heart and can attain great power by saying the magic word, "Shazam." When he does so Billy transforms into a grown man (Zachary Levi) who still has the mind of a boy. His foster brother, Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer), councils him and helps him catalog his super-powers, but he is appalled that Billy seems more interested in getting attention and autographs than anything else. Then Billy has to face a real challenge in the form of Dr. Sivana (Mark Strong), who grew up bitter and warped due to the bullying of both his father (John Glover) and brother and being told by Shazam that "you will never be worthy." Now Sivana has great powers himself and Billy -- who is not certain what to call himself as a hero -- may find himself in for the fight of his young life.

Levi with Grace Caroline Currey

Shazam is based on the golden age character of Captain Marvel, who was published by Fawcett comics. DC and Fawcett were entangled in a lawsuit over the alleged similarity between Cap and Superman for many years until Fawcett went out of business and DC bought the rights to the character. Meanwhile Marvel Comics created their own Captain Marvel (apparently the name had fallen into the public domain for a spell), an alien actually named Mar-Vell. (Captain Marvel is now a female who had a long history at Marvel comics, originally being known as Ms. Marvel). Although DC still uses the name Captain Marvel in its comic books, the name is never used in this movie, probably because at the time Marvel was developing its own Captain Marvel movie. Although he never refers to himself that way, our hero is apparently named Shazam, and the old wizard is just the Old Wizard.

Mark Strong and John Glover with demons

Shazam, which is rated PG-13, has a light tone throughout the movie, but one sequence is completely at odds with the rest. Dr. Sivana uses demonic creatures to slaughter not only his father and brother, but every terrified and innocent person in the board room. One man has his head bitten off and his body thrown out of the skyscraper (the brother is also thrown through a window). This sequence would be perfectly okay in a horror/monster movie, but it's out of sync and disturbing in a near-comedy like this. It also makes such a sentimental sequence as Billy being reunited (in a very disappointing way) with his mother seem a touch hypocritical. However, both Levi, Angel, Grazer and others give good performances -- Faithe Herman is adorable as little Darla -- although Mark Strong, while competent and not campy, is a little disappointing as the head villain. As the old wizard, Djimon Hounsou comes off more like a witch doctor from the South Bronx than any kind of magical sorcerer. At the end Billy's foster siblings all temporarily transform into adult heroes in similar costumes. The FX throughout are very good and a scene when Shazam causes a bus accident but manages to save everyone afterward is well-done. 

Verdict: Okay DC super-hero movie with some out-of-sync sequences. Stick with The Adventures of Captain Marvel serial. **1/2.