GoMovieReview Rating: ★★★1/2
Rated: M
Directed by: David F. Sandberg
Written by: Henry Gayden, Chris Morgan
Shazam Created by: Bill Parker, C. C. Beck
Produced by: Peter Safran
Starring: Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Lucy Liu, Helen Mirren, Rachel Zegler, Jack Dylan Grazer, Adam Brody, Ross Butler, Meagan Good, D. J. Cotrona, Grace Caroline Currey, Haithe Herman, Ian Chen, Jovan, Marta Milans, Cooper Andrews and Djimon Hounsou.
‘The most powerful thing about you, is you.’
Yes, there’s the expected underlying message that goes with any teen-starring superhero movie.
But there’s a balance in this sequel to Shazam!, released back in 2019 (see review here)
There’s the delightful humour of Zachary Levi returning as the superhero Shazam; his alter ego (or is it the other way around?), Billy Batson (Asher Angel) now turning 18, an older teen to his previous 14-year-old character, still revelling in his superhero’s man-body, his adoptive family, mum (Marta Milans) and dad (Cooper Andrews) blissfully oblivious to their adopted children’s superpowers:
Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer) superhero Freddy (Adam Brody)
Eugene (Ian Chen) superhero Eugene (Ross Butler)
Mary and superhero (Grace Caroline Currey)
Pedro (Jovan Armand) superhero Pedro (D. J. Cotrona)
Darla (Faithe Herman) superhero Darla (Meagan Good).
The superhero powers don’t always go to plan though, hence being nicknamed by The Tribune – that no-one reads, it’s fake news! – the, Philly Fiascos.
There’s some genuinely funny moments here, with Shazam seeing a paediatrician, lying on a couch like he’s seeing a psychiatrist to unpack his issues – the doctor recommended by a friend, a youngish friend around Billy’s age because the doctor has dolls in the corner of his office.
Shazam has understandable issues. He doesn’t think he deserves his powers because he’s been rejected A LOT: his parents, the foster homes. Then of course The Tribune with front page, ‘Rejected by City.’
The main difference between the sequel to the original is the team aren’t kids anymore, so those jokes about the disparity of a child in a man’s body doesn’t have as much punch. But seeing Shazam rapidly chewing a mint to seal the deal on his Wonder Woman crush… I found myself laughing out loud at Zachary Levi’s antics as Shazam once again.
Has to be noted that Billy the superhero was less mature than Billy Batson the teen turning 18. But the idea of the school kids turning into fit superheros still worked and was a lot of fun.
And there’s blue fire-breathing dragons and the Staff of the Gods, the opening of the film above Athens. Spartan’s appear: Hespera (Helen Mirren) and Kalypso (Lucy Liu). Gods who have lost their power because of Shazam breaking the Staff in the previous film.
I like a bit of fantasy in a superhero movie. And director David F. Sandberg has handled the balance of humour, fantasy and drama well.
The young Darla felt, well, a bit young, at times. To appeal to a younger audience, no doubt. I could hear the response in the audience to her doe-eyed antics.
Didn’t always hit for me.
But, ‘I’m an idiot,’ Shazam is just as funny as the first film, even as he fights his growing pains while forever wondering, what is my superhero name?
It drags a bit, getting to the growing up moment, but overall, I was Shazam! entertained by this sequel, Sandberg getting the timing of the jokes just right.
