Shazam! (2019)

'Shazam!' is the kind of film DC was in desperate need of and is a hopeful sign of things to come. The film is about a young orphan named Billy Batson who is taken in by a foster family after losing his mother at a young age. He is seen as a potential savior and guardian from evil forces by an ancient wizard named Shazam, who imbues Billy with all of his powers simply by speaking his name aloud. At first, Billy uses his newly gained powers for selfish and unkind gains until an ancient evil arrives and threatens his new family and the world itself.

DC's attempts at their own cinematic universe has gone...less than well. In fact, it had fallen flat on its face with many of their recent films being needlessly rushed in an attempt to catch up with Marvel. Then came 'Wonder Woman', which is one of the best comic book films ever made and then 'Aquaman' which was a fun film that while flawed was of a much higher standard than the likes of 'Man of Steel' or 'Suicide Squad'. With 'Shazam!' it seems as if they've finally hit their stride and given us their best film to date. Filled with a youthful energy, fun action scenes, and some great comedy it feels like a throwback to the old 'Superman' films where they can be lighthearted but still take the source material and craft something great.

Overall, the film is a comparison of two families: Billy's & the villain Dr. Sivana. Sivana is shown as a child being verbally abused by his father and older brother and when he is denied the power of Shazam, it causes him to snap. Once grown, the envy of Billy and the hatred that had surrounded him has corrupted him and his lust for power makes him a formidable villain. Billy is shown throughout the film almost ending up on the same path. He steals, he treats people without care, and he attempts to first use his powers for selfish reasons. But it's ultimately the love of this new family along with some strong revelations that ultimately show he is a good kid at heart and truly is worthy of the powers he's been given.

It's some strong and thought-provoking stuff for a movie with so much comedy and a somewhat family-friendly tone but like the Marvel films, this strong theming is what makes 'Shazam!' so good. I think ultimately the biggest problem I felt was the villain (or villains I should say). His development is strong enough, but Mark Strong just seems to be going through the motions. I like Mark Strong in a lot of films, but I'm noticing that his villainous roles are just too similar even when they are well done. As far as a foe for Shazam, he fits the story well with the comparisons to the two being intricate to the overall narrative but the performance could have been stronger.

'Shazam!' is a great superhero flick with some top notch action, great humor, and a strong theme of love and family. It's a movie you and the kids will really love and I cannot recommend it enough. (P.S. Be sure to stay after the credits for a fun post credits scene that sets up an epic sequel.)

9.5