Shazam! Fury of the Gods

Actors: Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Rachel Zegler, Adam Brody, Ross Butler, D. J. Cotrona, Grace Caroline Currey, Meagan Good, Lucy Liu, Djimon Hounsou, Helen Mirren

Rating: 7 out of 10, A sequel to the surprisingly fresh first movie was always going to be tough. The sheer innocence of teenagers thrust into the bodies of superheroes was a neat concept and ably exploited in the first film. They try the same thing here but its not as successful. Luckily the superb cast lifts the material into an amusing experience. Zach Levi once again is tone perfect as the lead effortlessly capturing the teenage angst at loose within Shazam. There are some very funny moments as the group of superheroes deals with a trio of 6000 year old sisters bent on revenges played with appropriate aplomb by Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu, and Rachel Zegler. Zegler proves that her West Side screen presence was no fluke. The usually dour DC universe needs this light touch and it was nice seeing the Phillies home park get smoked, but I digress. A lot of fun, an inch deep, but worth it.

MVP: Levi in title role is still compelling

Operation Fortune Ruse de Guerre

Actors: Jason Statham, Aubrey Plaza, Josh Hartnett, Cary Elwes, Bugzy Malone, Hugh Grant

Rating: 8 out of 10, A Jason Statham vehicle with a very interesting cast in a Guy Ritchie movie. Statham plays his usual superspy but he’s ably assisted by Aubrey Plaza who steals every scene she’s in. They are trying to retrieve the customary world threatening computer device from a dastardly arms dealer, played with smarmy relish by Hugh Grant. Ritchie and Grant make a great team. A self-important Hollywood movie star (is there any other kind?) portrayed by a funny Josh Hartnett is dragooned into the recovery effort. The action is well staged and the plot moves in typical Ritchie swoops. I really enjoyed it, a good movie.

MVP: Aubrey Plaza, as Sarah stealing every single scene

Antman and the Wasp Quantumania

Actors: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Jonathan Majors, Kathryn Newton, David Dastmalchian, Katy O'Brian, William Jackson Harper, Bill Murray, Michelle Pfeiffer, Corey Stoll, Michael Douglas

Rating: 8 out of 10, I loved the first two Antman movies which tapped into Paul Ruud’s immense charisma and comic timing. This one suffers a bit by focusing too much on his daughter Cassie, who’s kind of annoying. The movie is rescued by old stalwarts Michael Douglas and Michelle Pfeiffer although Evangeline Lilly is criminally underused. Jonathan Majors steals virtually every scene he is in as a truly powerful villain. There are a couple very funny cameos as the entire group is sucked down into the sub-universe where Pfeiffer’s character was rescued from in the last movie. Soon they are immersed in a civil war that, being a Marvel movie, has reality-wide implications. While not as much fun as the earlier two movies this still delivers. Good movie.

MVP: Evangeline Lilly as Hope van Dyne, so watchable