Movie Review #58 Shazam! With Talking Flick Appearance

SHAZAM! (2019) Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Directed David F. Sandberg

Director David F. Sandberg (Lights Out) brings his horror/thriller chops to the DC Universe for some lighter fare in SHAZAM! Back to back directors with a background in horror (Aquaman's James Wan) is a surprising turn especially when you consider that they were meant to lighten the heavy tone of the Snyder films that preceded them (Man of Steel, Batman v Superman). I am somewhat baffled by the DC films, most of them that Snyder was involved in were at worst watchable (and all but Justice League made plenty of money), but he did take big controversial chances (they didn't all work out), so I get the reason Warner Bros wanted to ret-con this train, however with a successful Wonder Woman (the best thing that came out of the Snyder-verse) and a very profitable Aquaman what is next for DC? 

SHAZAM centers around 14-year old Billy Bates (played sharply by Asher Angel), who was presumably lost by his mom at a carnival and spent several years bouncing around foster care. His most recent foster home surrounds him with a funny group of characters most notably superhero obsessed Freddie Freeman (IT's Jack Dylan Grazer), somewhere in there (and for loosely explained reasons) Billy gets to visit a magical wizard who grants him the power of magic. Once Billy figures out he can turn back and forth from 14 year old boy to like a 30 year old superman wannabe (in a purposefully cheesy costume) the fun really begins. Sandberg really leans into the Big meets Superman vibe and the movie is at its best when it is a buddy movie about kids in over their heads. When the film is at its worst is when they try to give a lackluster villain more layers than he deserves. Thaddeus Sivana (ho-hum showing from frequent baddy Mark Strong) kinda sleeps walks his way around this film with 7 deadly sin monsters (some questionable CGI), which is a bummer because the best thing about DC is its awesomely complicated villains. There is some fun easter eggs and plenty of wink wink Deadpool meta humor that keeps the film fun and allows it to coexist in the confusing DC film world. SHAZAM is a fun light ride that never takes itself too seriously, but I like it most (and give Sandberg and writer Henry Gayden credit for) when it delves into the serous stuff like what it is like to be a foster kid and searching for your "real" parents and how hard that reality can be. The movie has real (not cheap) touching moments about family which I found refreshing. SHAZAM! may not be the course correct I was hoping for, but it is certainly a leap in the right direction SEE IT!

(The Shawshank Scale 1-10) A light lighthearted buddy movie that happens to be about superheros is a nice change of pace, enough to earn Shazam commendable 6.0 on the Shawshank Scale. I will be in line for the next chapter, hopefully with a more ROCK solid villain. 

Let me know your thoughts on SHAZAM! Submit a comment below.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY GUEST APPEARANCE ON TALKING FLICK!  

Talking Flick: Listen to my guest spot on Talking Flick a great movie podcast where we talk SHAZAM! Available on iTunes, Sticher, Anchor, or wherever you listen to Podcasts: Links below. 

Talking Flick Podcast on Anchor    (The Shazam Episode)

Talking Flick Podcast on iTunes    (The Shazam Episode)