This is by far my favourite DC universe movie. Shazam! showcases the sort of quirky and exiting content that could only come out of an expanded universe in the same way Guardians of the Galaxy did. David F. Sandberg appears to have taken ques from other superhero directors, namely James Gunn and Mathew Vaughn, and made something fun, heartwarming and altogether a blast to watch.
Zachary Levi is pitch perfect in the role of Shazam, in every scene he is believable as a kid in an adults body. The psychical humour and sharp dialogue work perfectly but don’t take away from the real character moments. At no point did it feel as though there was a disconnect between Asher Angel and Zachary Levi’s performances which is insanely impressive.
My one flaw comes with the villain played by Mark Strong. Although the set up is good the conflict with his character doesn’t really start until the end of the second act and so his character sort of disappears for a long time. When he does show up again it feels as though it kills the momentum of the film but this is made up for with a fantastic finale.
The real joy of this film comes from the fact that DC have realised that realism doesn’t have to mean dark and brooding. All of the kids at Billy’s foster home feel real and fleshed out and the character’s struggle is believable. This manages to have realistic characters and yet still feels fun which is a crucial element that has been missing from this franchise for a long time.
Overall Shazam! is a wholesome, fun movie that is absolutely worth checking out. I can see this becoming many children’s favourite film in the next few years but that doesn’t mean there isn’t something for everyone to enjoy.
Review by DeletedBlockedParent2019-04-16T11:50:04Z
This is by far my favourite DC universe movie. Shazam! showcases the sort of quirky and exiting content that could only come out of an expanded universe in the same way Guardians of the Galaxy did. David F. Sandberg appears to have taken ques from other superhero directors, namely James Gunn and Mathew Vaughn, and made something fun, heartwarming and altogether a blast to watch.
Zachary Levi is pitch perfect in the role of Shazam, in every scene he is believable as a kid in an adults body. The psychical humour and sharp dialogue work perfectly but don’t take away from the real character moments. At no point did it feel as though there was a disconnect between Asher Angel and Zachary Levi’s performances which is insanely impressive.
My one flaw comes with the villain played by Mark Strong. Although the set up is good the conflict with his character doesn’t really start until the end of the second act and so his character sort of disappears for a long time. When he does show up again it feels as though it kills the momentum of the film but this is made up for with a fantastic finale.
The real joy of this film comes from the fact that DC have realised that realism doesn’t have to mean dark and brooding. All of the kids at Billy’s foster home feel real and fleshed out and the character’s struggle is believable. This manages to have realistic characters and yet still feels fun which is a crucial element that has been missing from this franchise for a long time.
Overall Shazam! is a wholesome, fun movie that is absolutely worth checking out. I can see this becoming many children’s favourite film in the next few years but that doesn’t mean there isn’t something for everyone to enjoy.