SHAZAM! – “A lightning bolt of wondrous entertainment”

Zachary Levi as Shazam

RATING

DIRECTOR

David F. Sandberg (Annabelle: Creation – 2017)

STARRING

SYNOPSIS

Is based on the DC Comics character of the same name.

We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson's case, by shouting out one word--SHAZAM!--this streetwise 14-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult Super Hero Shazam courtesy of an ancient wizard. Shazam sets out to test the limits of his abilities with the joyful recklessness of a child. But he'll need to master these powers quickly in order to fight the deadly forces of evil controlled by Dr. Thaddeus Sivana.

REVIEW SUMMARY

Put simply, Shazam! is a lightning bolt of wondrous entertainment! The film is unapologetically juvenile in its approach and aims (scratch that) succeeds at pleasing the younger superhero fan base. Don’t get me wrong, adults will enjoy the film as well, but this is decidedly the “lightest” of the DC movies - no dark and brooding Gods among men to be found here. The movie is also helped by a strong cast of likeable characters, with Levi in particular bringing real youthful charm to his performance. However, the tale being told, another origin story of course, hits all the usual genre beats and never gives us anything that we haven't seen before. There are some touching lessons about what it means to be a family though, and thus gives the movie a nice heart at its core. So in the end, Shazam! unquestionably delivers a guaranteed good time in a rather crowded superhero field at the ol' multi-plex!

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