Shazam!

Among DC's vast array of superheroes, there are a fair amount of lesser known variety with weird gimmicks that helps them stand out and one of them is Shazam. Having in 1940, the premise regarding him involves a foster boy who meets a wizard that passes down his abilities to the child, allowing him to become an adult with godlike powers just by saying the moniker "Shazam". My exposure to him has been through two animated DC superhero shows, Justice League and Young Justice, in which he only appeared in one episode of the former and was utilized even more in the latter (supporting role). In the DCEU's maneuvers to make a concentrated comeback following rushed projects, a film was in the works for this lesser known hero and was next to be released after Aquaman. This brings us to that big screen debut film Shazam!, which was directed by David F Sandberg (Lights Out, Annabelle: Creation) and screenplay written by Henry Gayden (Earth to Echo). I entered the auditorium ready to see how much of the positive word of mouth was valid and left it having had not only an enjoyable time but also a refreshing one after the dark serious or dull films I've seen recently.

Why do some people call Shazam "Captain Marvel"? So the name of this DC figure and Captain Marvel from Marvel comics have a fascinating history. The DC hero was created first in 1939 by Fawcett Comics, which DC sue for the Superman similarities and won the rights to that character who was originally named Captain Marvel. Eventually after a series of legal issues with Marvel Comics since they had their own super heroine of that similar moniker, DC renamed their guy "Shazam". So if you hear people refer to him as the "original Captain Marvel", that's why.

What's it about? The story follows a reckless foster boy who meets a wizard that passes down his godlike powers to him, which enables him to transform into an adult superhero. The best way to describe this would be a 1980s family movie where it blends dark elements with cheesy lighthearted shenanigans that doesn't take itself too seriously and earns its PG-13 rating. It recognizes that the driving forces regarding both the protagonist and antagonist that entices them into childish behavior regarding their powers (ranging from getting revenge to gleeful joy in discovering the abilities). It helps that the binding message regarding family bonds makes the story very simple but effective for a movie in this genre that's easy to sympathize with. The humor, for the most part, is surprisingly effective in making fun of the troupes it's using.

For all of its strengths, however, there are aspects to the writing where weaknesses pop up. There are spots in the plot where things can get clunky in the execution such as the first 20 minutes that has exposition to set up (but no where as bad as Aquaman's similar issue). The screen time and background surrounding the villain could have used some more fine tuning to feel more developed (one or two more scenes would have helped).

How's Billy Batson/Shazam? In regards to our main protagonist, the screen time between young Billy (Asher Angel) and his powerful adult form (Zachary Levi) is about 35:65. The performances from both actors are very solid between the conflicted nature portrayed by Asher and the more confident type from Zachary. Billy is a compelling lead due to his struggle where his good nature gets hindered by his selfish angst about his personal drama that causes hm to lash out to those around him. Being given the powers by the wizard lets us explore how his mindset deals with the joys and dangers of this new life he's unfamiliar with. Asher, despite taking a little bit of time to warm up in the role, shouldn't be underestimated for fulfilling what's asked of him and has potential to grow as an actor. Zachary definitely delivers on the entertainment with his comedy and the struggle against imposing threats.

How's everyone else? The other important characters focused on are Doctor Sivana (Mark Strong) and Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer). Mark gives a good portrayal as he displays a menacing presence whenever he's on screen. As mentioned before, the set-up pieces for his antagonist role is there but he needed one more scene or two to develop him further. Jack gives an enthusiastic performance as an eccentric nerd who bonds with his foster brother after the latter is given new powers. The chemistry he shares with Zachary is an entertaining highlight while also sharing character development for both of them. Honorable mentions go to the Marta Malians, Cooper Andrews, and the rest of the actors portraying members of Billy's new foster family who are so delightful that it would have been great if they were allowed more time on-screen to build the bonds with the main protagonist even better.

Overall Consensus: Shazam creates its own identity and personality that's strengthened by great acting, an engaging lead, entertaining humor, a lighthearted tone mixed with dark elements, and a fun family dynamic, despite some writing issues. ⭑⭑⭑⭑1/4🎟🍿 Runtime: 2 hours 12 minutes PG-13

Reasons to watch it: You are a fan of the aforementioned actors. You prefer superhero films that don't take themselves seriously with a couple of Easter Eggs. You are familiar with the titular figure and want to see how that source material is adapted. You want to see a family film that blends dark elements with cheesy funny activities. You want to see Mark Strong as a villain in a good comic book film for a change.

Reasons to avoid it: You aren't a fan of the aforementioned actors. You dislike superhero films that don't take themselves seriously. You don't want to see a family film that blends dark elements with cheesy funny activities.