Shazam!

For the first time in a while I wont begin a DC film review with the backstory of "how we got here" and by the end of my combination of words I'll use to grade Shazam! you're likely to see why. 

Instead, let's talk about Chuck. Or rather, Zachary Levi's big start and claim to fame thus far. Chuck was a simple and silly show that aired while I was in high school and college. It was one of those shows that was perpetually and frustratingly "on the bubble" of cancellation each season but its fan base continuously kept it alive. With today's TV overload, I'm not sure it would have been so lucky. 

Long story shorter, Chuck ended up being one of my favorite shows ever. Sure it went off the rails at times, but it was just so easy to enjoy, even despite Levi's Chuck accepting and becoming a spy. A big reason for this was consistently Zachary Levi's endearing nature. He seems like the nice guy - genuinely nice - and compared to other stars he comes across as a bit more humble. 

While others may have scoffed at Levi's casting for Shazam!, I was always optimistic about it - despite any qualms with his size - because of the impact he made on Chuck. What's exciting for Shazam! as a potential series too is that Levi's impact only becomes more intense as a series continues (obviously depending on if the material is up to par). So if we eventually are at Shazam! 3 or something like that, we'll likely be in a world that is in love with Levi and his character. 

As for the film itself, it's pretty amazing how much it shares in similarity with the "other" Captain Marvel summation: both have incredibly weak, somewhat obligatory starts, but become far more entertaining and worthwhile once our heroes become...well...a hero.

Shazam! has a unique quality going for it in that it's about a teenager who suddenly finds himself bestowed with powers that turn him into the "perfect man". This leads to a large chunk of the film being dedicated to taking the training wheels off, but is also an incredibly easy path to some great laughs. Again, after an opening that's really dull and basically just sets up the mythology, we have quite a fun film on our hands with the obvious catalyst in that shift being Zachary Levi. To say he was "born for the role" will take multiple films with him in it to determine, but at least for this single film I found him to be the perfect choice. Equal parts goober, innocent, funny, endearing, and heroic - basically what he was on Chuck. The film becomes immensely more entertaining with him in it as the adult Billy Batson. 

If this were Snyder's Shazam, the suit would be
blood red and Freddy would be frowning

Mark Strong has a pattern of playing
decent, but forgettable villains by this point

Though he shouldn't be overshadowed by his younger co-star, Jack Dylan Grazer. You may or may not remember him from It, but he's basically the co-star here as Billy's new foster brother and his dark sense of humor leads to some truly funny laughs in the form of one-liners (with expert delivery I might add) and the boys testing out Shazam's powers. It's that humor, and its consistency, that makes Shazam! incredibly different than any other DC film to date. After Aquaman and this, it's very clear the new pivot that DC has made and while it likely means they still cant scrap together a universe to save their lives, it's leading to better films overall and that's a benefit. With Shazam!, we get the first DC film that can compete with Marvel in terms of laughs because of how genuinely funny it is. For my showing I noticed there were a handful of jokes that fell flat, probably around a third of them, but the ones that do land are full belly-laughs. 

Where Shazam! lacks any really cool action, it makes up for in heart. All the kids in this film, including Billy, are foster children who've made their own family. At first it may sound corny, and perhaps it still is and I fell for it, but the story really comes full circle to a memorable and somewhat poignant ending about needing a family, but being able to choose said family if your own abandons you. Again, Levi is great at this kind of stuff, but so were the other kids in the cast. It doesn't go to "dark" places, but it goes to very real places and the film is all the better for it.

Dude looks yoked in that suit

Against all odds it would seem (or perhaps we were all making too much of a big deal about it), Shazam! continues a strong streak for the DC "universe" or whatever we're calling it now. Whether we'll ever be seeing Levi fighting alongside Gadot could just be a pipedream, but as a single film Shazam! left me thoroughly entertained and hopeful for a sequel or two with the characters. It has immense talent and goodwill with Levi and the other children actors that earn it the right to turn into its own special thing, regardless of how it fits into the larger puzzle.

CONS

• Most of the action is fairly lackluster, though this definitely isn't an action film so it's not as big of a deal
• Few instances of wonky special effects
• Probably about a third of the jokes don't land. The script could have used one more pass likely
• I know Levi bulked up big time for the role but the suit still looks semi-inflated? Perhaps I'm wrong and he actually got Cavill-level ripped
• Obligatory opening to explain the lore is a rough start for an otherwise great film

PROS

• I've always liked Zachary Levi and Shazam! doesn't disappoint. He's perfect for the role and it looks like he's having a ton of fun
• Frequently hilarious. Largely in thanks to a strong script and expert delivery by Jack Dylan Grazer (and others)
• Brings a unique spin to the superhero franchise with its premise
• Heartfelt story that is more real vs. dark and builds a great cast of characters to continue supporting
• Fun, memorable ending. Makes me hopeful to see a sequel
• Has fun ties back to the DCEU that fit the story and don't feel totally out of obligation 

Rath's Review Score | 8/10