Movie Review: Heroes fly in ‘Shazam’

“Shazam” movie poster. Courtesy of IMDB.

By Catherine Engstrom-Hadley
Staff Writer

“Shazam” is a story for the misfits. The humor in this movie lands on its feet and doesn’t overstep the seriousness of the plot points, but adds a realness and richness to it. “Shazam” wasn’t afraid of broaching the harder topics without being patronizing.

When we meet protaganist Billy Batson (Asher Angel) as a 14-year-old, he’s breaking into a pawn shop. Billy has dedicated his entire life (so far) to finding his mother, whom he lost in a crowd at the Christmas Village in Philadelphia. On his last legs in the foster care system, he’s sent to a group home, where he inherits five siblings. Billy rejects the family at first, convinced he needs to keep looking for his mother. But when he sees his new brother Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer) get beat up by bullies, he steps in to help him and ends up chased into the subway.

On the subway, he is transported to lair of The Wizard Shazam (Djimon Hounsou), who bestows Billy with his magical powers, but without much explanation of what the powers are. Billy is charged with fighting the physical forms of the seven deadly sins. Soon, a doctor obsessed with absorbing his power and backed by the seven deadly sins, is after Billy/Shazam.

Later, the protaganist returns as an adult version of the character Shazam (Zachary Levi). Levi was truly a treasure to watch in this movie—it seems he was born for this role. The transformation from Billy’s childhood portrayal to his adult-self trying to understand his superhero persona was executed perfectly.

In the newer round of DC extended universe movies, the franchise has struggled to bring us a compelling villain, but “Shazam” proves that change may be possible for the DC extended universe.

“Shazam” brings us our first real contender since “Aquaman” for a great movie, with a much better villain (played by Mark Strong) than any of the previous movies. “Shazam” seems like DC’s answer to somewhere between “Spiderman: Into the Spider Verse” and “Deadpool.”

“Shazam” is the perfect Christmas story, which is odd for a spring release. Our main battle ground is the Christmas Village, and the mall Santa from Philadelphia Mills is featured heavily. The film is a story of family, redemption and acceptance. I believe “Shazam” will be the new “is ‘Die Hard’ a Christmas movie?” debate for many.

“Shazam” doesn’t take itself too seriously, but still manages to be grown up. The point is that Billy is more Billy than he is “Shazam,” and being a kid gives him more of an advantage over the adults—he thinks differently and dreams bigger. After the success of “Spiderman: Into the Spider Verse” this year, we’re remembering who these comics were made for in the first place. Although this movie is family oriented, it earned its PG-13 rating. The monsters are scary, the fighting is intense and there are a few very violent moments. But for teenagers and teenagers-at-heart, this will be right up your alley.