OH. MY. GODS.

A new challenge for the ”Shazamily” arrives in the shape of three daughters (Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu, Rachel Zegler) of Atlas who can rob the superheroes of their powers. The sequel to Shazam! (2019) starts out in the same vein, but neither humor and charm nor the visual effects are enough to sustain a story this thin for more than two hours. Entertaining in fits and starts, not least thanks to its main cast, but the intended emotional payoff near the end feels half-hearted and predictable. A conventional final battle doesn’t help. 

2023-U.S. 130 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by David F. Sandberg. Cast: Zachary Levi (Shazam), Asher Angel (Billy Batson), Jack Dylan Grazer (Frederick ”Freddy” Freeman), Adam Brody, Rachel Zegler, Ross Butler… Lucy Liu, Helen Mirren, Djimon Hounsou. Cameos: Gal Gadot, Mark Strong.