Warner Bros’ new feature film Shazam! signifies a key point in the evolution of their movies based on DC comics. There was a script idea floating around for a Shazam project in 2008 that was allegedly going to be a more serious take on the character in the wake of the noir-ish Dark Knight’s success. But following criticisms leveled at many of their DC films for taking themselves far too seriously and grim, there’s been a gradual transition towards more light-hearted approaches.
Starting with the uplifting Wonder Woman and followed by the campy Aquaman, David F.Sandberg directs the formerly-named Captain Marvel with the kind of fun spirit you’d imagine would be suitable for a story about a boy suddenly given demigod-like powers.
Searching for his mother after getting separated from her at a fair years ago, Billy Batson (Asher Angel) refuses to settle into foster homes and connect with other families. Initially he’s standoffish towards the Vasquezes (Cooper Andrews and Marta Milans) and their adopted kids. Among them it’s the superhero fanboy Freddy Freeman (Jack Dylan Grazer) who one day first discovers Billy’s newfound ability.
When Billy says the name of a staff-wielding mystical elder (Djimon Hounson), he’s granted an adult body wearing a red and white-caped costume (which looks like it’s a few sizes too big for Zachary Levi with its bulging chest), with access to blinding speed, strength on par with Superman’s, boundless courage and energy bolts.
Awestruck at this new development, Billy and Freddie test said powers at a convenience store, foiling a robbery and using Batson’s new grown-up form to legally purchase beer which they quickly find to be pretty gross. From there it’s a series of YouTube videos going viral as the two hone and show off Batson’s cosmic abilities, which got some of the biggest laughs from my audience.
The fun and games come to a screeching halt though when the villainous Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong, who looks like he’s having plenty of fun being bad) arrives. Having been denied Shazam’s abilities years ago as a child, he uses the influence of his father’s company to hunt down Batson and steal his gifts, holding in his left eye the powers of seven creatures representing the Deadly Sins. Billy’s forced to take this superhero gig a lot more seriously, learning to fly and fight on the job.
One aspect I especially enjoyed is how the film doesn’t try to depict either Batson or Shazam as flawless. Billy still has a lot of growing to do in both of his forms. While he generally shows qualities of heroism and compassion, he can also be a bit self-centered and too preoccupied to realize when others are trying to reach him.
Thankfully, Asher Angel’s performance as Batson has enough heart to keep the audience on his side, and he and Grazer have fun and sweet chemistry together. Levi’s Shazam (who is never christened with this name by the other characters officially, leading to some funny concept names Freddie and Billy suggest) is affable and likable despite his faults, and both versions show decent growth throughout the story.
In terms of the action, the movie isn’t going out of its way to throw everything at the screen the way Justice League did (which sometimes became visually overwhelming). Some moments could probably be scary for smaller kids in theaters, but there isn’t anything too intense- the fight scenes are effective for the type of plot that unfolds.
It’s generally a smaller scale superhero film than some of its contemporaries, but combined with some strong physical comedy it adds to the movie’s simpler, kid-friendly appeal.
Said kid-friendly appeal be damned, I enjoyed Shazam! from an adult perspective as much as I probably would as a boy within this movie’s target audience. After trying to rush into its cinematic universe prematurely in hopes of catching up to the MCU in two films, these self-contained films might be beneficial for the DC Extended Universe going forward, as they’re not so strictly wed to a massive overarching narrative.
As a sincerely joyful comic book movie full of spirit that captures what’s so enjoyable about the Shazam property, I’ll happily recommend it to comic book fans, families or just anyone looking for a good time at the movies period. Hop on to @Official _FAN as always to let us know your feelings if you’d had the chance to check it out!