The following review is full of spoilers. Be aware.
“Touch my staff and say my name.” Billy Batson’s (Asher Angel) reaction to this sets the comedic tone for the rest of the movie.
Although the most laughs will come from Billy realising he has bullet immunity. While most Heroes would fight the robbers straight away, Shazam! takes pleasure in playing with them.
The childlike innocence in an adult’s body is something Zachary Levi perfectly plays. In this he proves he is perfect for the role.
The movie releases today in the US, while the UK waits until tomorrow. However it is certainly worth it as you can see by the spoiler free review.
As touched on in the other review, there is a heart to the story that revolves around family. In Shazam! Billy loses his mother when he was a child and spends his life searching for her.
He bounces from foster home to foster home until one day he is caught by the Police and brought in by the Vazquez. They already foster five other children but Billy will be their biggest challenge yet.
It takes the span of the movie’s duration for Billy to feel comfortable with his new family. However, there is a connection between him and Mary (Grace Fulton) due to her going to College.
In the comics, Mary Bromfield is Mary Batson, the long lost sister of Billy. There is nothing in this version to suggest otherwise though.
It will be interesting to see if the sibling thread picks up in the sequel.
By the end of the movie, the foster children unite in taking down Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong) and the Seven Deadly Sins.
To do this they must all speak the name.
With a roaring SHAZAM! the family transform into the Marvel Family.
Adam Brody and DJ Cotrona finally get their chance in a finished DC Movie. Before Shazam! they were cast in the canceled Justice League Mortal as The Flash and Superman.
While there is heart and humor in the movie, horror is also prevalent. David F. Sandberg is known for his Horror movies so it’s no surprise but be warned for any kids going to see this, there are scary scenes.
One of those is when Sivana arrives at his father’s business and unleashes the Sins on them. Unfortunately, a board member meets their end by one of the Sins biting off his head.
The music cues shine in the movie too, especially the selected well-known numbers. Don’t Stop Me Now is executed well during the training montage, breathing new life to an already great song.
Rocky is mentioned and from that brings a hilarious scene of Shazam! singing his own version of Eye of the Tiger.
The end of the movie will bring a smile to the face of Superman fans. The John Williams theme is there but unfortunately Henry Cavill is not.
If you are looking for a fun-filled time with a movie that brings out smiles Shazam! is the one to watch.
