Film: Shazam! Fury of the Gods
Cast: Helen Mirren, Jack Dylan Grazer, Lucy Liu, Rachel Zegler, Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Faithe Herman, Jovan Armand, Ian Chen
Director: David F. Sandberg
Rating: 3/5
Runtime: 130 mins

Director David F Sandberg’s attempt to rekindle that teenage zest and mirth that ‘Shazam!’ so contagiously advocated, proves successful enough. The introductory edition was a quirky, charming outing that fortified its fandom by attracting kids and preteens more than teens and adults. It’s a playful story of the young Billy Batson (Asher Angel) who, by uttering the magic word ‘Shazam!’ transformed into his alter ego, the adult superhero Shazam (Zachary Levi), won hearts without much ado. The sequel, Shazam! Fury of the Gods may not be deep or fulfilling but it is a perfectly acceptable kid-friendly comic book movie. It carries forward the over-the-top goofy vibe its predecessor exhibited, and manages to get enough comic mileage out of challenges faced by kids and teenagers who suddenly find themselves in adult bodies with superpowers.

The adult superheroes may not have any problems poking fun at themselves or pulling each other's leg but they are plagued with teenage complexes - in keeping with their real-life teenage selves. So even when they are out clumsily saving the world ( they are dubbed as ‘The Philadelphia Fiascoes’), they are plagued with self-doubt and sexual fantasies particular to the teenage set. The leader (Zachary Levy) of the Shazam pack which also includes unicorn-obsessed Darla (Faithe Herman), ambitious Mary (Grace Caroline Currey), confused Pedro (Jovan Armand), and obsessive Eugene (Ian Chen), even has improbable dreams of catching Wonder Woman’s eye.