SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS - A Review by John Strange

SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS – A Review by John Strange

Shazam! Fury of The Gods is the latest DC Universe movie. Teenaged Billy Batson (Asher Angel) aka Shazam (Zachary Levi) has recruited all of the foster kids he lives with. This is a good thing. His lack of knowledge on what and how to do his superhero job shows in his words and actions, and that is absolutely not.

The story of the gods coming for Billy and the family to take back their power is a good one. Helen Mirren is Hespera, the eldest of the Titan Atlas’ daughters. Her sisters, Kalypso (Lucy Liu) and Anthea (Rachel Zegler), join her to regain their power.

The Shazam family is each played by two people. One is the kid and the other is one of the members of the Shazam team. The only actor I recognized in these players was Meagan Good as the super half of the Darla Dudley character.

This film is loaded with action and some excellent CGI. The emotional flow of the film is as chaotic as the storyline. Is this a bad thing? No, absolutely not. It is one of the tools the writers used to convey the kid’s doubt and fear but also to highlight their courage and tenacity.

The film is designed for the younger generation, the Gen Z folks, not old coots like me. I began reading comics as a young boy and my reading covered both the major companies and several of the smaller ones as well. I read everything I could get my hands on.

The version of the DC Captain Marvel (changed to Shazam due to litigation many years ago) that I read wasn’t this version. This one came much later (like I said, old coot). I like the idea behind this character and his family, and I can see a long line of sequels using these characters.

I have two last things to say. Wonder Woman and Skittles (taste the rainbow!).

Director: David F. Sandberg

Cast: Helen Mirren, Zachary Levi, Grace Caroline Currey, Lucy Liu, Rachel Zegler, Adam Brody, Meagan Good, Jack Dylan Grazer, Djimon Hounsou, Diedrich Bader, Asher Angel, Marta Milans, Ross Butler, P.J. Byrne, D.J. Cotrona

MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for sequences of action and violence, and language)

Selig Rating: 3.5 Stars

Runtime: 130 Min.

Release Date: 03/17/2023

Local Release Locations: Wide

Language: English

Movie Site: SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS Official Site

Trailer: SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS Trailer

The Selig Rating Scale:

5 Stars – Excellent movie/show, well worth the time and price.

4 Stars – Good movie/show

3 Stars – OK movie/show