Who would’ve guessed that Warner Brothers trying so hard to capture what Marvel Studios has done while also trying so hard to not be like them would have resulted in an absolute mess? But considering what they did with Wonder Woman and Aquaman, and what they’re planning with the new Suicide Squad or Birds of Prey, they are moving in a direction that inspires a lot of confidence regarding how they handle these classic DC heroes after losing so much of that trust the past several years. And with that, we now have Shazam!, which continues the studio’s momentum, delivering an astonishingly delightful experience from start to finish.
The film follows Billy Batson (Asher Angel), a troubled foster kid who is taken in by a new home. However, he is still searching for his mom, who lost him as a child. And one day when he is on the subway, he finds himself in a strange place where he is met by a wizard (Djimon Hounsou) who gives him powers beyond his wildest dreams, turning the teenage boy into the mighty Shazam (Zachary Levi). Working alongside fellow foster kid, Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer), Billy comes to terms with his new set of skills and becomes the talk of Philadelphia, which sets him up as a target for Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong).
The greatest strength of Shazam! is its simplicity. Structurally and in terms of its goals, it evokes the kind of standalone adventure that blockbusters rarely are nowadays. It’s a very complete story, with a fundamental understanding of act structure and character arcs, and how small choices can inform the narrative. Despite running over two hours long, its strong focus and its lean, tight writing makes the movie go by in a breeze, while also having a solid control of pace, knowing when to let certain moments to breathe. References are made to Batman and Superman as people in this world, but the movie has no interest in multi-movie setups or interconnected story arcs. I love how it keeps the scale intimate and utilized its Philadelphia setting to a great effect.
It also succeeds as a joyful family film, and one that allows director, David F. Sandberg, writer, Henry Gayden, and the cast to lean on their more childish impulses. It’s great fun to see superhero powers presented from a very human, grounded perspective, relishing in the fantasy that comes with a child being granted incredible abilities. Comparisons to Big are certainly appropriate, the film even has a very direct reference to an iconic scene from that film. It takes as much advantage of the premise as they possibly can. There is some language and the action, especially early on, packs a surprising punch to them, which might seem too intense for a younger audience, but like some films I grew up with, the added intensity might be something the kids appreciate and find thrilling, like they’re seeing something they’re not supposed to, even if it’s largely aimed at them.
The film also has a lot of heart. The way it handles the foster family is done with a wonderful balance of humor and sensitivity. The payoff to Billy’s search for his mother is strong, and helps informs the theme of family and the necessity for some people to choose who their family is. I love that we get to spend time with the other foster kids, played by Grace Fulton, Ian Chen, Jovan Armand, and the biggest scene stealer in the film, Faithe Herman. Levi is stellar, bringing a child-like physicality that is full of infectious enthusiasm. Strong is always cool to see as a villain, and he does a great balance in bringing a sinister presence that also has some emotional nuance. The performances are super charming across the board, and they effortlessly navigate the film’s fine line between meta irreverence and unabashed sincerity.
I loved Shazam! I love its characters, and I love what it has to say about the nature of family. It’s messaging is far from complex or even all that new, but it believes in every moment and in every character to such an extent that I can’t imagine anyone not being charmed by the time it’s over. I found myself grinning for practically the entire runtime, and I was genuinely impressed by how well Sandberg went from low budget horror to this, while still managing to retain some personality that doesn’t get lost in spectacle. After so many films recently that either put optimistic characters in a darker, cynical light, or films that try to deconstruct the genre, it’s a welcome reminder that being a superhero can be so damn fun.