Shazam! Fury of the Gods

Bombastic and cacophonous, a relentlessly overstimulating carnival that relies heavily on CGI and a crushing and clanging soundtrack to fake its ambitious scale.

... In a drama this dumb and unaware, the buffed-up makeover seems like an insult to the same “inadequate” outsiders and weedy minorities the film pretends to champion.

Unfortunately, the new sequel proves an adage: Lightning doesn’t strike twice.

Fun, clever, smartly conceived entertainment that doesn’t take itself too seriously. What a concept.

Everything that worked in the original works less well in this so-so sequel, blunting even the star power emitted by its high-profile villains.

It’s competent, uninspired swill, undone largely by the fact that it’s following up a superior first movie.

Despite lacking so much of what made Shazam! great, there’s fun to be had with Fury of the Gods, a movie that serves as a reminder the DCEU wasn’t all bad. It’s just a shame it never quite manages to electrify us in the same way as its predecessor.

Shazam! Fury of the Gods benefits having the whole family be a big part of the film.

Doesn't capture the magic of the first film, does a bad job of faking Philadelphia, and its ending is an insulting copout.

Finishes VERY strong [with] payoffs to emotional beats from the original that are highly appreciated.