Review: 'Shazam!' is DC’s funniest movie, but is it too scary for kids?
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Review: 'Shazam!' is DC’s funniest movie, but is it too scary for kids?
David Dizon,
ABS-CBN News
Published Apr 03, 2019 04:22 PM PHT

Move over, Marvel. We’ve got a hilarious new superhero in town.
Fourteen-year-old Billy Batson has been running away from one foster home to the next as he searches for the mother he lost when he was just 2 years old. His latest foster family is the Grazers where he gets 5 siblings, including paraplegic and new BFF Freddy Freeman. One day in school, Billy faces down a couple of bullies to protect Freddie before making his escape to the nearest subway. Instead of getting off at the next stop, Billy winds up in the Rock of Eternity, a secret lair where a wizard named Shazam offers him the chance to become a superhero and face the threat of the Seven Deadly Sins.
Move over, Marvel. We’ve got a hilarious new superhero in town.
Fourteen-year-old Billy Batson has been running away from one foster home to the next as he searches for the mother he lost when he was just 2 years old. His latest foster family is the Grazers where he gets 5 siblings, including paraplegic and new BFF Freddy Freeman. One day in school, Billy faces down a couple of bullies to protect Freddie before making his escape to the nearest subway. Instead of getting off at the next stop, Billy winds up in the Rock of Eternity, a secret lair where a wizard named Shazam offers him the chance to become a superhero and face the threat of the Seven Deadly Sins.
I didn’t know much of the backstory of the Captain Marvel Shazam character before watching Shazam!, the new DCU movie by David F. Sandberg. I did watch the old cartoon with the Marvel family,and was deep into the old Justice League International series by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis. The Superman-Captain Marvel fight in Mark Waid/Alex Ross' Kingdom Come is an all-timer.
I didn’t know much of the backstory of the Captain Marvel Shazam character before watching Shazam!, the new DCU movie by David F. Sandberg. I did watch the old cartoon with the Marvel family,and was deep into the old Justice League International series by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis. The Superman-Captain Marvel fight in Mark Waid/Alex Ross' Kingdom Come is an all-timer.
No matter though, "Shazam!" is a movie that works well even without any knowledge of Captain Marvel Shazam’s backstory. With a few minor quibbles, "Shazam!" is, hands down, the funniest superhero movie in the DC stable, unafraid to poke fun at its own universe, and shows that Marvel isn’t the only game in town. After the screening, the enthusiastic crowd gave it the loudest applause I’ve ever heard for a DC movie. It was certainly well deserved.
No matter though, "Shazam!" is a movie that works well even without any knowledge of Captain Marvel Shazam’s backstory. With a few minor quibbles, "Shazam!" is, hands down, the funniest superhero movie in the DC stable, unafraid to poke fun at its own universe, and shows that Marvel isn’t the only game in town. After the screening, the enthusiastic crowd gave it the loudest applause I’ve ever heard for a DC movie. It was certainly well deserved.
A big part of what works for "Shazam!" is that you really like his character. Billy Batson (Asher Angel) may have been kicked around but he doesn’t fall into cynical moroseness, just an earnest desire to find his mom. When he transforms into the 6-foot tall titular superhero (Zachary Levi), complete with spangly outfit and white cape, his disbelief and slow discovery of his powers are a delight. Shazam! is exactly what would happen if you give a 14-year-old superhero powers – he fumbles and experiments and he doesn’t quite get the hang of his powers, including flight.
A big part of what works for "Shazam!" is that you really like his character. Billy Batson (Asher Angel) may have been kicked around but he doesn’t fall into cynical moroseness, just an earnest desire to find his mom. When he transforms into the 6-foot tall titular superhero (Zachary Levi), complete with spangly outfit and white cape, his disbelief and slow discovery of his powers are a delight. Shazam! is exactly what would happen if you give a 14-year-old superhero powers – he fumbles and experiments and he doesn’t quite get the hang of his powers, including flight.
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His first attempt at busting crime, stopping robbers at a liquor store, is hysterical especially after finding out that he is immune to bullets. Instead of fighting crime, he uses his new powers to earn some quick money – showing off his ‘lightning hands’ or getting selfies for a quick buck. Even his attempts on thinking of a cool superhero name (Captain SparkleFingers, Thundercrack, etc) were gut-bustingly goofy. It’s a breakthrough performance for Levi, whom I only knew in "Chuck" and the "Tangled" movie.
His first attempt at busting crime, stopping robbers at a liquor store, is hysterical especially after finding out that he is immune to bullets. Instead of fighting crime, he uses his new powers to earn some quick money – showing off his ‘lightning hands’ or getting selfies for a quick buck. Even his attempts on thinking of a cool superhero name (Captain SparkleFingers, Thundercrack, etc) were gut-bustingly goofy. It’s a breakthrough performance for Levi, whom I only knew in "Chuck" and the "Tangled" movie.
It also helps that he's got the perfect sidekick. Freddy, as played by Jack Dylan Grazer, is a real firecracker, quick to the draw and just bursting with personality as the paraplegic partner to the sometimes dim-witted Shazam, the Robin to his Batman or Micro to his Punisher. That the two are nearly the same age at the start of the story helps smooth over the transition from disbelief to their training montages and into the third act.
It also helps that he's got the perfect sidekick. Freddy, as played by Jack Dylan Grazer, is a real firecracker, quick to the draw and just bursting with personality as the paraplegic partner to the sometimes dim-witted Shazam, the Robin to his Batman or Micro to his Punisher. That the two are nearly the same age at the start of the story helps smooth over the transition from disbelief to their training montages and into the third act.
Where "Shazam!" truly soars though is the focus on family. There's prayer at the table, although surprisingly without any mention of a Christian deity. A family member's reluctance to leave after receiving good news is touching and one foster sister, Darla Dudley, gets the best line in the entire movie. Billy's new foster parents Victor (Cooper Andrews) and Rosa Vasquez (Marta Milans) show real concern because they were also foster kids. It all builds up to Billy's reunion with his mother, and why he was lost for so many years.
Where "Shazam!" truly soars though is the focus on family. There's prayer at the table, although surprisingly without any mention of a Christian deity. A family member's reluctance to leave after receiving good news is touching and one foster sister, Darla Dudley, gets the best line in the entire movie. Billy's new foster parents Victor (Cooper Andrews) and Rosa Vasquez (Marta Milans) show real concern because they were also foster kids. It all builds up to Billy's reunion with his mother, and why he was lost for so many years.
No superhero movie would work without a strong villain. The light touch of "Shazam!" is tempered by the darkness brought by the maniacal Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong). Sivana, as it turns out, was also chosen to receive Shazam's powers but failed the wizard's test of character. Sivana's appearance as a young teen at the start of the movie threw me; his was an unexpectedly darker origin that felt wrong for such a lighthearted film.
No superhero movie would work without a strong villain. The light touch of "Shazam!" is tempered by the darkness brought by the maniacal Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong). Sivana, as it turns out, was also chosen to receive Shazam's powers but failed the wizard's test of character. Sivana's appearance as a young teen at the start of the movie threw me; his was an unexpectedly darker origin that felt wrong for such a lighthearted film.
The use of the Seven Deadly Sins, demonic representations of Pride, Envy, Greed, Lust, Wrath, Gluttony, and Sloth, was also grimmer than anything I've seen in recent superhero movies. There is a massacre scene in the middle of the movie that is quite violent, and every time the Seven Deadly Sins are present, it feels like a horror film. Even the scene where a beloved character is very close to drowning is a shock. For parents planning to bring younger kids, these parts may be too much. Might be best to skip.
The use of the Seven Deadly Sins, demonic representations of Pride, Envy, Greed, Lust, Wrath, Gluttony, and Sloth, was also grimmer than anything I've seen in recent superhero movies. There is a massacre scene in the middle of the movie that is quite violent, and every time the Seven Deadly Sins are present, it feels like a horror film. Even the scene where a beloved character is very close to drowning is a shock. For parents planning to bring younger kids, these parts may be too much. Might be best to skip.
Overall, the best surprises in "Shazam!" are the ones not telegraphed by the trailers. For those who know the Shazam canon, there are payoffs that will earn your applause. The final battle between Sivana and Shazam might be a bit overlong, but that is a minor quibble.
Overall, the best surprises in "Shazam!" are the ones not telegraphed by the trailers. For those who know the Shazam canon, there are payoffs that will earn your applause. The final battle between Sivana and Shazam might be a bit overlong, but that is a minor quibble.
After the absolutely bananas "Aquaman," "Shazam!" shows that DC Universe is finally getting it right. For those keeping score, that's 2 for 2 for DC, 3 if you include "Wonder Woman." Dizzying and dazzling, "Shazam!" is a marvelous ride.
After the absolutely bananas "Aquaman," "Shazam!" shows that DC Universe is finally getting it right. For those keeping score, that's 2 for 2 for DC, 3 if you include "Wonder Woman." Dizzying and dazzling, "Shazam!" is a marvelous ride.
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