In an age where it feels like
we’re getting a new superhero movie every other week, Shazam! feels like something plucked out of a different era.
Shazam, previously known as Captain Marvel, (Not that Captain Marvel, it’s
a long story, this
video helps explain it.) was a character from the 40’s that was,
for a time, even more popular than Superman, but went into obscurity after its
publisher, Fawcett Comics, was sued by DC, only to be bought up and integrated
into the DC Universe after Fawcett folded. And it’s not hard to see why he was
so popular. Superman was someone the kids could look up to, but Shazam was
someone they could relate to since he actually was a kid. For the past 50 years or so he’s kept a low profile with
middling popularity, but with Warner Bros. attempting to revamp the DC Extended
Universe with a lighter tone, this seemed like the prime candidate to kick this
off.
Our story follows Billy Batson
(Asher Angel) a troubled orphan whose been passed around from foster home to
foster home. One day on his continuous pursuit to find his mother, he is
contacted by a dying wizard (Djimon Honsou) who bestows him with the wisdom of
Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Atlas, the power of Zeus, the
bravery of Achilles, and the speed of Mercury. When he tells his foster brother
Freddie (Jack Dylan Glazer) what happened, they do what any kid who just found
out they can turn into a superhuman adult would do: test out his new powers,
pull pranks, do stunts, make viral videos, score popularity points, do some adult
things like buy beer and go to a gentlemen’s club, and save the occasional
endangered civilian. But the fun comes to an end with the arrival of Dr.
Sivanna (Mark Strong), who was deemed unworthy to inherit the wizard’s powers
as a boy, and has since given himself to a horde of demons representing the
seven deadly sins.
When I say Shazam! feels like a movie plucked from
a different era, I’m not talking about the comic’s heyday of the 40’s, but
rather the 90’s and early 00’s when every superhero movie besides Batman was fast and loose and fully
aware of how absurd it is, but knew exactly when to take itself seriously and
had an underlying sense of darkness that doesn’t overwhelm or derail the
adventure. It’s in the same company of films like Ghostbusters, The Goonies, Jurassic Park, Men In Black or Sam
Raimi’s Spider-Man that have equal
doses of whimsy, heart and danger, so if you’re fine with letting your kids
watch those, they’ll have a blast with this one. But, of course, the real
points of comparison are Big, with
it’s boy-inhabits-the-body-of-an-adult premise (there’s even a tribute to the famous floor piano scene at
one point), and Chronicle, in that
it’s about kids with powers who mostly use them for goofing off right until
someone gets hurt. Between this and Aquaman,
it does feel a bit like an attempt by DC Entertainment to steer away from the
oppressive sense of grim self-importance that nearly killed them by pivoting in
the complete opposite direction. But Shazam!
isn’t the best DC movie by far because it doesn’t take itself too seriously.
It’s the best DC movie by far because it’s a perfect balance of fun, heart,
action and sincerity that knows exactly what it is and doesn’t pretend to be
anything else.
The bulk of the action is
centered around Billy and Freddie goofing off and testing out these new
abilities, and that’s where a big chunk of its authenticity comes from. The
working-class Philadelphia setting, Freddie’s disability, Billy’s obvious
abandonment issues, or the simple fact that these are poor kids in the foster
care system aren’t treated with any pity, but rather as a simple fact of life.
Billy is a kid who was dealt a bad hand and has a lot to deal with, but is
still recognizably a kid. Asher Angel does well at striking that balance, but
Zachary Levi deserves all the credit in the world for doing the same and
pulling it off while also wearing a big red muscle suit with a cape and a glowing
lightning bolt on his chest. It helps that they’re rounded out by an incredible supporting cast. There are four other foster kids living with them who have
their own distinct personalities and wants in life that feel like a genuine
family, and they all play a significant role in the third act. I wouldn’t spoil
what that role is if you payed me, but let’s just say it’s the most authentic
family I’ve seen in a superhero movie since The Incredibles.
And he’s rounded out by a very
compelling villain in Dr. Sivanna. Conflict-wise, Shazam! does take a bit off from Marvel in that the main antagonist
is the hero’s own insecurities while having a comparatively less rememberable
villain to keep the external conflict going, but here it manages to do both. Sivanna
here is a big departure from his comic book counterpart since he was a
prototypical mad scientist who would’ve felt derivative of himself at this
point, but here he’s reinvented as a jaded, envious man who felt he was cheated
out of greatness by someone who he thinks doesn’t deserve it. (Think Vegeta
from Dragon Ball Z.) He works well as
a parallel to Billy’s struggles. Billy never asked for these powers or felt he
was deserving, but ultimately took up the responsibility. Sivanna was deemed too
unstable to wield the wizard’s powers, and when he took them by force,
ultimately proved him right. And if you think that sounds weird, just wait until
you see who comes calling to him during the mid-credits.
Bottom line, Shazam! is a massively
entertaining, heartwarming romp that has something to offer for everyone. It
does feel stretched out in some parts and undercooked in others and it does
seem like it’s trying to cram too much movie into one package, but there’s
enough heart and sincerity to win you over and the final act is one hell of a
blowout. (I don’t think I’ve heard an audience cheer that wildly since Thor’s
arrival in Wakanda in Infinity War.) Lots
of fun, bring the kids.
8/10
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