Shazam! Review

Say the magic word: Shazam! What does it mean? It stands for the wisdom of Solomon, strength of Hercules, stamina of Atlas, power of Zeus, courage of Achilles, and speed of Mercury. In short, it transforms teenage boy Billy Batson into an adult superhero with powers of the Greek Gods. With unstoppable powers what is one to do? According to this movie, the answers may surprise you. It could be taking a selfie with fans, shoot lightening to charge phones, or buying beer without an ID. Unlike previous DC films this one has a lighter tone and actually keeps you wanting more. I'll be the first to admit: I had little to no expectation for this film, but it proved me SO wrong. Billy is introduced as a foster child running away from homes in order to find his biological mother. With his latest foster family he befriends Freddy, a disabled teenage boy. After Billy saves Freddy from a pair of bullies, he is confronted by an ancient wizard who bestows his powers onto him. This allows him to turn to the hero known as Shazam. Billy & Freddy together learn how to use Shazam's powers and quickly rise to fame. But one does not become a superhero without a super villain. This is when Dr Sivana, played by Mark Strong, comes in. At a young age, he was once approached by the wizard and offered the powers of Shazam but his lust for power showed how unfit he was for the task. Instead of being empowered by the wizard the Seven Deadly Sins give power to Dr Sivana to become nearly unstoppable. Now, it's only up to Billy to stop him.

From watching the trailer I had reservations about the film. I thought it would be a comedy superhero movie that does not take its hero or audience seriously. It is that but so much more. The use of comedy is unavoidable because, let's be real, it's a teenager's mind in a grown man's body. The beginning is filled with joke after joke, but it doesn't feel forced. The jokes come naturally from the actors and work well in the plot. They lighten the mood and you learn to love & care for the characters. Their personalities are brought to the forefront. As a result, though, their pain becomes that more heartbreaking and relatable. Issues of abandonment, being disabled, and family become real. The film is not afraid of being dark but does so in a way that makes the audience relate to the situation. Billy goes through so much pain before realizing that what he desires may have been in front of him all along. That's what makes this movie work! It finds the perfect balance of humor & pain it almost imitates reality (with a little bit of superhero traits in there).

Now, let's show some love to the actors for making these characters come to life. Billy is played by Asher Angel while Shazam is portrayed by Zachary Levi. It's funny because I believe Zachary does a better job at acting like a child than Asher. Zachary acts confused, fun, and so full of himself. His performance can make you believe he is really a teenage boy trapped in a grown man's body. He's so innocent & playful. He just fits the role of Shazam so perfectly and finds his rhythm so quickly. Asher is funny, but I think where he shines is in scenes when he is suppose to be taken more serious or when plot points become dramatic. Even though Shazam is this hero with Superman-like powers it is easy to identify with the character and the personal issues he has to overcome. Then there is Freddy played by Jack Grazer. Jack is this kid you instantly connect with. He has a funny personality and so much charm that you just can't help but want to be friends with him. Needless to say, the main actors did their job of liking the characters for better or worse.

Final Score: 9/10

Shazam is filled with laughs placed at the right moment while still telling a compelling story. Though the film has the typical superhero cliche plot but it's all about the delivery. Yes, the villain gets defeated in the end but it's how Shazam realizes his power & true self that make it powerful. Look out Superman. Don't be surprise if there's a new face to the next Justice League movie.