More concerned with the elements that won’t carry over into the new DCU, becomes something of a joke when you consider how much has been introduced and built up over the years to get scrapped.
In the new approach, with a concrete plan, there’s no reason cast can’t crossover which would be a shame if they didn’t but hey, guess we gotta wait.
For now, spectacle in all its clarity remains in Shazam! Fury of the Gods, which in its efforts to scale up its scope it does so whilst keeping a grounded sense of character. Tending to focus more on a few than the many, some characters barely make any impression, but I can see this being a matter of servicing the plot, and not stretching out the runtime.
Shazam is a fun character, and lives in a world with a lot more light. But it falls into realms of mundanity with its “epic” battles, which in air-quotes is written ironically, but actually not that bad, just the same third act we always get. CG monsters, and keyed in green-screen battles, handle very well to credit the VFX artists, but the slog of familiar grounded tips over into overstaying its welcome at times.
I will say it’s contained story, barely connected to anything outside of its own story is refreshing in no efforts to foreshadow sequels that will doubtfully ever see the light of day anyway, with exception to a pointless post-credit scene, and cameo that doesn’t feel earned.
It’s a fun time, and has heart, the jokes land not necessarily the best collective of performances but it is believable enough to be engaged.
3/5
Weslar 