By Alberto Diaz – Staff Writer
Released on April 5th, Shazam!, directed by David F. Sandberg, sees teenaged Billy Batson forcefully thrust into a motley group home. There, Billy reluctantly befriends Freddy Freeman, a crutch-bound superhero fanatic. Upon protecting Freddy from bullies, Batson is teleported to the Wizard Shazam, who deems the runaway “pure of heart” and bestows him with the wisdom of Solomon, strength of Hercules, stamina of Atlas, power of Zeus, courage of Achilles, and the speed of Mercury (See? It spells “SHAZAM.” Pretty neat, huh?). This allows Batson to turn into a nameless, thirty-something, Superman-comparable Adonis whenever he says the word, “Shazam.” The film then follows the teen-turned-titan’s comedic exploits as the champion of the Rock of Eternity, the center of all magic. But Billy must use his powers to deal with someone deadly from the Wizard Shazam’s past, who is trying to take the 14-year-old Batson’s newfound abilities for themself.
The film is generally upbeat, fun, and full of youthful exuberance. Zachary Levi shines as Shazam, delivering a charismatic yet sincere performance. The friendship between Billy and Freddy, and their relationship to their other foster siblings—Darla, Mary, Eugene, and Pedro—gives the film its ever so warm soul. And while the duo’s foster siblings are, for the most part, thin and underdeveloped, you can’t help but relate and root for them on the basis of their diversity and dysfunctionality.
If you like your superhero fare to include world-ending stakes, dully-shot fight scenes, or overly pretentious dialogue, then this movie likely isn’t for you. What you’re in for is a personal, family-oriented film that follows an outcast as he is faced with an uncertain and difficult future.
Ultimately, Shazam! is wish fulfillment for the superhero fan. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Who didn’t want to be a superhero when they were a kid (or now, even)? Although Shazam!’s setup can be difficult to digest, and the tone not always consistent, these issues can easily be forgiven if you’re simply looking for few laughs at the movie theatre. If anything, this DC Comics film is one that veers from the grim installments of the franchise’s past.
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