The DC film franchise is currently in flux, so moviegoers may not be sure what to expect from the Shazam! series, but the Shazam! Fans are reminded by Fury of the Gods that the solo appeal of the book makes the problems with the larger universe less important. The majority of critics concur that if you enjoyed the first Shazam!, you'll enjoy the sequel even if it hasn't received nearly as many positive reviews. Strangely, many people find its charming lead hero to be the least endearing, despite the general consensus that Jack Dylan Grazer steals this film even more than the last one. Maybe this is just how these films need to be, amusing enough to pass the time.

The following is what Shazam's detractors have to say. wrath of the gods

HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO THE FIRST SHAZAM!?

Shazam: Fury of the Gods delivers everything that worked for me in the first movie, dialed up to eleven.
– Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky

Shazam! Fury of the Gods is a delightful ride and a worthy follow-up to the first film.
– Jamie Jirak, ComicBook.com

Shazam! Fury of the Gods had a lot to live up to, and it delivers!
– Rachel Leishman, The Mary Sue

This sequel has really upped the ante with fire-breathing dragons and other creatures… The action is really quadrupled here, as are the special effects.
– Pete Hammond, Deadline Hollywood Daily

For the most part, director David F. Sandberg has managed to replicate the winning formula – even if the film never quite flies as high as its predecessor.
– Mark Cassidy, ComicBookMovie.com

While Shazam! Fury of the Gods doesn’t entirely recapture the giddy fun of the first film, its humor, sweetness, and delightfully human heroes remaining bright spots in a genre too often obsessed with the dark and the gritty.
– Kate Erbland, IndieWire

Shazam! Fury of the Gods offers fans of the first film more of the same: a family-friendly action adventure with humor and heart. And that’s not a bad thing.
– Matt Fernandez, Geeks of Color

There’s not much more audiences could ask for in a sequel.
– Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction

 

WILL DC SUPERHERO FANS ENJOY IT?

It raises the bar for DC films.
– Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky

A predictable but effective entry in the genre, this is a fun way to spend an afternoon in the DC Universe.
– Brandon Zachary, CBR

This is a fun, family-friendly superhero film – still set firmly within the DCEU – that has all the action and laughs you’d want.
– Abigail Chandler, SciFiNow

HOW IS THE STORY?

A lot is going on within the narrative, and one pivotal character’s motives flip-flop so many times they put in a line that cracks wise about it. Still, it all comes together in a gloriously berserk third act that features a mythical monsterpalooza, a badass dragon, a well-earned sacrifice and Skittles.
– Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction

There is a lot more plot crammed into Fury of the Gods. However, the film fully commits to each of its plot lines and keeps a quick pace that never drags under unnecessary or filler scenes.
– Matt Fernandez, Geeks of Color

Shazam! Fury of the Gods offers more action a more sustainable crafted storyline that moves the plot forward that is a bit more sensical than its predecessor.
– Jamie Broadnax, Black Girl Nerds

When there’s exposition to move the plot along, it feels clunky. When it’s just the fun of kids being adult heroes? Then it’s  still very fertile ground.

– Joey Magidson, Awards Radar

 

WHAT ABOUT ASHER ANGEL’S BILLY?

It’s as if all we learned all we needed to know about Billy from the last movie.
– Matt Fernandez, Geeks of Color

The resolution of Billy’s arc feels wholly unsatisfying, both because of Angel’s limited involvement in conveying it and in how quickly it’s all tied up.
– Tom Jorgensen, IGN Movies

He was far more annoying than I remember in the first movie. His ineptitude and emotional immaturity, while occasionally funny, just seemed so much more out of place here. I didn’t buy his arc, all the way up to the end.
– Kyle Anderson, Nerdist

Billy hasn’t matured much from the first film to this sequel, and whether it is intentional or he’s just using this silly persona as a guise to lead people on because it works for him, it feels a little mechanical at this point.
– Jamie Broadnax, Black Girl Nerds

HOW ARE THE SPECIAL EFFECTS?

Fury of the Gods benefits from an increased special effects budget… A lot of attention to detail clearly went into designing [its] monsters.
– Matt Fernandez, Geeks of Color

Considering this movie had nearly half the budget of a certain recent Marvel threequel, it’s astounding how much better it looks than the Marvel film in question.
– Jamie Jirak, ComicBook.com

Visually, the special effects have taken a step up, particularly in a dazzling final battle inside a giant dome lit up with atomic fire and super-powered lightning.
– Travis Hopson, Punch Drunk Critics

The monsters look good, the lightning Shazam so often employs has never looked better, but it all feels as if was shot on a single backlot.
– Kate Erbland, IndieWire

Its not-so-spectacular CGI effects make you long for a little Ray Harryhausen-style stop-motion.
– Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter

---

(Photo by ©Warner Bros.)
 

SHOULD THERE BE MORE SHAZAM! MOVIES?

There’s something to be said for a series like this that can truly stand alone. It’s charming — and it’s different, and it’s worth saving.
– Kate Erbland, IndieWire

Although the future of the Shazam! films is uncertain under the new James Gunn/ Peter Safran regime, Fury of the Gods presents a convincing argument that Earth’s Mightiest Mortal is still worthy of that movie magic.
– Matt Fernandez, Geeks of Color

This second edition bodes well for its future in the uncertain DC Universe, at least in terms of delivering on what finicky fans expect.
– Pete Hammond, Deadline Hollywood Daily