We all know that DC execsโ realization that their superhero movie does not need to exactly follow Marvelโs trajectory came very late and with a dire cost. Yet, slowly, the hope rises. Patty Jenkinsโ Wonder Woman has gone through a territory Marvel never ventured (at least until Captain Marvel); then, James Wanโs Aquaman, despite all the flaws, were an exhilarating, likable blockbuster. The breakthrough continues with Shazam!, a magic-powered superhero movie, which comes to fulfill childhoodโs fantasy of those growing up with the lots of Power Rangers or BeetleBorgs.
After an encounter with an ancient wizard (Djimon Hounsou), an orphaned teenage, Billy Batson (Asher Angel) is granted magical power that can turn him into a broad-chested, adult-bodied hero called Shazam (portrayed by Zachary Levi). The premise might sound like BeetleBorg, if not Big with superhero twist. Billyโs been in his lifetime quest of finding his biological mother when heโs got the power. When he becomes Shazam, he would spend most of the time hanging out with his foster brother, Freddy (Jack Dylan Glazer) before encountering a power-wielding villain, Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong).
If not for the release date, Shazam! could easily become a campy yet memorable Christmas blockbuster that belongs to the guild along with Jingle All the Way, Home Alone or Die Hard. It really takes its time to have a lot of fun with its deliberate childish demeanor: checking up all Shazamโs superhero ability or even finding out the best name (that includes Zap-tain America). While the action sequences were pretty basic (forget about city-flattening battle in Man of Steel), the showcase of Shazamโs super powers is the funniest to watch.
Being an origin story, Shazam! exploits its entire run to explore the heroโs powers with sense of fun. Zachary Levi takes it more than a persona. He manages to channel the heroโs mighty persona and blends it with Billyโs childish manner, which makes Leviโs performance surged with an unusual depth and power. The supercharged humor can be overwhelming at times, but, even when it appears in the middle of climactic battle, it safely lands without damaging the narrative build.
While harboring tons of fun, the center of Shazam! really is Billyโs lifetime quest of finding the family. Asher Angel manages to deliver quite a performance to make audiences sympathetic to Billy; meanwhile, Glazer provides an effective side-kick. Thereโs a moment where a key moment in Shazam! feels a little too bland and the narrative feels too stretched; but, itโs easy to ignore them once the movie flaunts its warm, hearty side.
In the end, DCโs attempt to revamp their superhero rosters with Zachary Leviโs Shazam! is a promising step towards their future project. In the end, who knows that a fun-loving, absurd icon directed by another horror director is, by far, DCโs most fun entry?
Shazam! (2019)
Action, Adventure, Adaptation, Comedy Directed by: David F. Sandberg Written by: Henry Gayden, Darren Lemke based on characters by Bill Parker, C.C. Beck Starred by: Zachary Levi, Djimon Hounsou, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Glazer, Mark Strong Runtime: 132 mins
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