As a boy growing up in New York City making weekly trips to the comic book shop, I had often wished that I was a superhero. I think children in general have such a wish fulfillment. Hence the popularity of 14-year-old Billy Batson (played by Asher Angel) who by uttering the word “Shazam!” becomes a Superhero with Superman-like powers. Warning, spoilers ahead…
DC Movies have often and rightfully so been criticized for being way too dark and gloomy. With the exception of a scene or two, Shazam! is anything but dark and gloomy. A huge part of that is Zachary Levi in the title role as the man-child Billy Batson. If you’re a fan of the film Big starring Tom Hanks and love Superman, you should feel right at home here. The film itself is crisp and lighthearted, a departure from earlier DC films. Shazam has two parallel stories that center around parenting and what it means to be a good one.
The first centered on a verbally abusive father (John Glover) and his youngest son, Thaddeus (later played by Mark Strong). An icy road and some berating of his young son later would lead Thaddeus on a lifelong pursuit of a power that he was deemed unworthy. The second part is set up in the recent past with a young Billy Batson and his teenage mother at a carnival where he gets separated from her and never sees her again.
Now fast forward to the present and young Thaddeus Sivana is now an evil Doctor still in search for that power that he had encountered as a child from a wizard (Djimon Hounsou) who was looking for a “champion” that is pure of heart to take over the mantle as protector and keeping the Seven Deadly Sins from wreaking havoc on humanity. As it turns out, Billy now a mischievous teenager who has bounced from one foster home to another, is such a champion.
The true magic of Shazam! lies in the performances of the two Batson’s Angel and Levi. But also from Jack Dylan Grazer who plays Freddy, Billy’s foster brother and superhero aficionado. Freddy in a large sense represents us the audience, the dreamers. He actually has the maturity to understand how a superhero should act and how to not take it for granted unlike Billy. Even in an adult form, Billy is still a 14 year-old boy trapped in a man’s body. And like a lot of boys that age, only thinks of himself.
Shazam! is a lighthearted and fun ride for the family. There are some dark moments that has become synonymous with DC films. These moments however are few and far between. If there were any complaints is the length. At 130 minutes, it’s probably 30 minutes too long. Not a big deal. On the heels of the successful Aquaman, it looks like DC finally has some positive momentum. Hey, it only took them 10+ years.
Directed by: David Sandberg
Starring: Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Marta Milans, Cooper Andrews, Grace Fulton, Ian Chen, Jovan Armand, Faithe Herman and Djimon Hounsou
PG13 130 min
SHAZAM! – ***1/2 (out of 5 stars)
May the Dork be with you,
JPB
The Dork Knight
