Shazam! Movie Review

The following is a movie review “Shazam!” by Marc Primo.

Release date: 5 April 2019 (USA)

Director: David F. Sandberg

Language: English

Production companies: Warner Bros., DC Entertainment, DC Comics, New Line Cinema, Seven Bucks Productions, The Safran Company

Producers: Richard Brener, Jeffrey Chernov, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, Geoff Johns, Dwayne Johnson, Adam Schlagman

Generation X remembers Tom Hanks in Big. Generation Y remembers Jennifer Garner in 13 Going on 30. But Generation Z will remember Zachary Levi in Shazam!, even if older generations will always remember the caped-superhero as the real Captain Marvel (DC’s version first appeared in 1939, while Marvel’s came out in 1967).

It may seem too confusing, but DC Comics’ latest film venture merely took on the overused formula of tweens magically morphing into adults then cranked up the action meter to come up with something different. But don’t dismiss Shazam! just yet. With high doses of fun mixed with dark undertones, Sandberg’s take on DC’s comical version of Superman is one entertaining ride.

Audiences will be invested on how the film presents its concept of family. Billy Batson (Asher Angel), is an orphaned 14-year old who wishes to be reunited with his biological mother, but ends up being taken under the care of the Vasquezes (Cooper Andrews and Marta Milans). Sandberg did not sacrifice screen time to establish the connection between Billy and his new family as it is an important element of the film.

Billy’s interest in superheroes was roused by his monoplegic foster brother Freddy’s (Jack Grazer) wealth of knowledge on the subject. From then on, Billy becomes the bullied Freddy’s defender in school until one fateful day when an old mystical wizard (Dijimon Hounsou) grants Billy ancient powers, all packed in a muscular, yet goofy-looking adult body.

From then on, the fun ride doesn’t stop. Shenanigans ensue as the teenager deals with the terms of his new alter-ego who shoots lightning volts through his fingertips, and possess super human strength.

The film is able to establish vital plot points which make it easier to digest early on. Shazam’s powers is derived from the six immortal elders Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury which make up the name, as the old wizard searches for a worthy successor who can thwart the havoc of the evil Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong).

Shazam!’s production team does not fail in projecting the crude, over-the-top superhero version from the pages of old DC comic books. Zachary Levi obviously beefed up for the role, but nevertheless retained his geeky and clueless bearings reminiscent of his role in Chuck where he portrays Billy.

There is undeniable chemistry between Levi and Grazer as hero and sidekick, often resulting in amusing scenes, with plenty of warmth watching Andrews and Milans as the loving parents. Dr. Sivana also becomes the perfect villain for Shazam with his dark and menacing powers gained from the seven deadly sins.

Most audiences will find Shazam! entertaining with the movie’s balance of family values, comedy, and the right hint of darkness that seem to be a requisite to most DC superhero movies these days. By doing away with pretentiousness and allowing the protagonists to be silly, Shazam! becomes all the more engaging. There’s no complicated storytelling and the CGI is top-shelf. At 2 hours and 12 minutes, the ending is definitely worth the wait.

DC’s good deed in giving viewers a refreshing and worthwhile film to watch in Shazam! pays off in a way that we can all look forward to from their end of the cinematic universe. Redefining the superhero formula and setting it apart from Marvel’s, along with their own dark-themed movies of late, seems promising enough to usher in a new age of comics-to-movie productions worth watching.

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