Runtime: 132 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for intense sequences of action, language, and suggestive material)
Who should see it? Fans of DC and comic-book movies in general.
Shazam! is directed by David F. Sandberg, written by Henry Gayden, and serves as the seventh entry in the DC Extended Universe. In recent years, the films released by DC and Warner Bros. have been met with mixed reception from critics and audiences alike. Wonder Woman and Aquaman were both noteworthy hits carried by positive word of mouth, but everything else either underperformed at the box office or left the majority of critics and audiences unsatisfied. I suspect Shazam! will join with the former considering it's already debuted to favorable reviews and taps into the current comic-book-movie craze as an entertaining adaptation of a more obscure superhero origin.
The novelty of Shazam! which sets it apart from the onslaught of superhero movies is the lead character's ability to freely transform from a regular teenager to a full grown adult superhero. It's essentially Big meets Superman. While that premise could have floundered as a gimmick in the wrong hands, a degree of self-awareness and creative comedic beats ensure that the novelty never wears off. The story by Henry Gayden and Darren Lemke is simple, straight-forward, and self-contained, which looks to be a trend for DC in the coming years. The various members of the Justice League are alluded to via merchandise and mentions, but you don't need to have seen their respective films to understand what's going on or catch those references. Shazam! is committed to first and foremost telling a standalone story, and that's become somewhat refreshing in the age of the interconnected Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The lighthearted buoyancy of the titular hero trickles down throughout Shazam!, amounting to a joyous cinematic experience. And I believe many may consider it their favorite DC movie when all is said-and-done primarily on account of its electrifying entertainment value. It's silly in all the right ways thanks to Sandberg's direction and a charming lead performance from Zachary Levi! As Shazam, Levi carries a youthful exuberance that teeters perfectly between foolish and childish, so you genuinely believe there's a teenager trapped in a superhero's body having the time of his life.
Playing said teenager is Asher Angel, a relatively unknown actor who'll surely make it big thanks to this performance. In the role of Billy Batson, Angel exudes the scrappy attitude of an independent foster kid while his insecurities surface in select moments. Asher actually handles the character's vulnerability quite well, which makes Batson an endearing protagonist and even enhances everything Levi's doing as Shazam to an extent. Meanwhile, Jack Dylan Grazer's Freddy makes for a suitable sidekick of sorts as a disabled companion and passionate superhero fanboy. Opposite Angel and Levi, Grazer grounds the proceedings and invokes plenty of heart alongside the rest of Billy's foster family.
Frequently, superhero blockbusters get carried away with the grand spectacle and minimize the perspective of the ordinary individuals who surround the men of steel and caped crusaders. Shazam!, however, revels in championing that point of view and Sandberg bolsters this idea most via Billy's connection to his newfound foster family endearingly portrayed by Cooper Andrews, Marta Milans, Grace Fulton, Jovan Armand, Ian Chen, and Faithe Herman respectively.
Others worth acknowledging include Djimon Hounsou's noble wizard Shazam and Mark Strong's villainous Dr. Thaddeus Sivana. Their character could have been reduced to little more than one-note archetypes, but Hounsou and Strong each elevate the personas of the magical guardian and power-hungry antagonist presented on paper. I'd even go as far to saying Dr. Sivana is one of the more developed antagonists we've seen onscreen from DC in recent years.
All in all, Shazam! is an electrifying addition to the ever-expanding roster of distinguished DC movies. Whether it's lightning in a bottle or DC's finally found their creative stride, Shazam! zaps some much-needed energy and enthusiasm into an uneven universe as a delightful, heartfelt origin story worth raving about!
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