"Shazam! Fury of the Gods 2023" swoops onto the screen aiming to fuse the everyday struggles of teenage life with the larger-than-life spectacle of superhero showdowns. This sequel offers us a glimpse into Billy Batson's life as he and his foster siblings navigate the complexities of adolescence with the added pressure of their godly personas.

The movie undeniably has its moments of fun – you can see the sparks of joy when the characters test their abilities and the charm in the banter among the foster family. These scenes remind us that at its heart, Shazam! is about the wonder of being a hero seen through the eyes of a child. There's an infectious enthusiasm when our youthful squad embraces their responsibilities, and it's these moments that ignite the film's allure.

However, while it tries to keep our spirits high, the zest often fizzles out under a more scrutinizing gaze. The film, regrettably, leans heavily into a formula that feels all too familiar, a maze we've run too many times. The plot trots out expected genre tropes that don't really shake up the superhero cocktail enough to be memorable.

Despite the fresh potential, the execution comes across as superficial, missing opportunities for deeper character exploration or twists that truly surprise. This sometimes lends the movie a cringe-worthy air, with certain gags and one-liners failing to land and instead tumbling into groans from the audience.

Though it never quite plummets into the pits of boredom, it hovers dangerously close, leaving some action sequences feeling a touch empty, as if they're just checking the boxes of what a superhero film should include without packing a punch of something new.

All told, "Shazam! Fury of the Gods" receives a solidly middle-of-the-road score of 6/10. It retains enough levity and spectacle to warrant a watch, especially for fans of the first film or younger audiences seeking a light, uncomplicated foray into the DC universe. Nonetheless, it's not one that will linger in your thoughts, more like a flash of lightning that briefly captures your attention before fading away into the night.