Shazam! (2019 Film) Review
"Shazam!" tells the story of fourteen-year-old William "Billy" Batson, an orphan who has jumped from one foster home to another. The next one he finds himself in houses five other kids, including Frederick "Freddy" Freeman, a superhero enthusiast. One day, Billy is selected by Shazam, a wizard, to receive his special powers. These powers can be activated by calling out the wizard's name whereafter Billy turns into an adult superhero.
Asher Angel plays Billy Batson while Zachary Levi fulfills the role of Billy's adult alter ego, Shazam. Jack Dylan Grazer plays Freddy. The villain of the film is Dr. Thaddeus Sivana, played by Mark Strong. Billy's five other foster siblings include Darla Dudley, Mary Bromfield, Eugene Choi, and Pedro Peña. The five are played by Faithe Herman, Grace Fulton, Ian Chen, and Jovan Armand, respectively. Marta Milans and Cooper Andrews play the foster parents, Rosa and Victor Vasquez.
David F. Sandberg, a well-known Horror filmmaker, directed "Shazam!" The film was produced by Peter Safran and written by Henry Gayden. Warner Bros. Pictures distributed "Shazam!"
Overall Thoughts
"Shazam!" is enthralling from start to finish, providing a great deal of character and heart in addition to solid action sequences and effects. The story is in the same vein of other classics like Penny Marshall's "Big," a connection that many people have also made, and Jon Favreau's "Elf." While "Shazam!" may share their spirit, the stories couldn't be more different and unique. In the film, the fun superhero antics take a backseat to a story that tackles an intriguing subject matter that superhero films have yet to cover. Once the film started on its path, I didn't want it to stop because I was involved with the characters and surprised by how mature the film was. It caught me off guard because that's not at all what the film's marketing told you.
Indeed, "Shazam!" has a lot more going for it than just the goofball hijinks teased in the trailers. No doubt, the film has more of the great comedy that's in the marketing, but right from the opening, the film shows that it's not simply a comedy. It's themes are more profound than what I ever could've expected. As I outlined in the synopsis, the protagonists are foster children and the film balances the upsides and downsides of being in that situation. While showing what the experience is like, we get to know the children, what their feelings are about it, and how they've formed a family. Things get profound, not in an existential way, but the kind where the themes are not one-note or repetitive. There's thought put into it and as a result, the themes are more fascinating. The cast undoubtedly shines in these moments because the story requires them to feel like a family unit, which they are because each of the actors are giving their best possible performances.
Indeed, "Shazam!" has a lot more going for it than just the goofball hijinks teased in the trailers. No doubt, the film has more of the great comedy that's in the marketing, but right from the opening, the film shows that it's not simply a comedy. It's themes are more profound than what I ever could've expected. As I outlined in the synopsis, the protagonists are foster children and the film balances the upsides and downsides of being in that situation. While showing what the experience is like, we get to know the children, what their feelings are about it, and how they've formed a family. Things get profound, not in an existential way, but the kind where the themes are not one-note or repetitive. There's thought put into it and as a result, the themes are more fascinating. The cast undoubtedly shines in these moments because the story requires them to feel like a family unit, which they are because each of the actors are giving their best possible performances.
Once Zachary Levi was cast as the titular character, I was immediately on board with "Shazam!" When it comes to comedic ability, he's one of the best at it. He's also an actor that doesn't even have to act in order to reflect a child's spirit. Because he's so talented, it's not surprising that Zachary Levi provides a touching and hysterical performance as the superhero version of a kid trapped in and adult's body. Now, Levi doesn't show up right away and Asher Angel holds his own as regular old Billy Batson. Initially, I was skeptical about Asher Angel's casting as Billy Batson because the actor hails from the Disney Channel and the acting there isn't what you want from a theatrical film such as this. In the end, Angel nailed his part to a T, selling both the tragedy of Billy's backstory and the joy in the journey he takes in the film. Together, Asher Angel and Zachary Levi do the body-swapping part of the role well. When Billy activates his Shazam alter-ego, you sense Angel's presence through Levi's performance. The actors compliment each other's work perfectly.
On the subject of the film's technical quality, the action and CGI serve the film well. The action isn't especially breathtaking, but they are entertaining sequences. A majority of the CGI is well done, with the exception of one wonky inclusion, which I dare not spoil. The cinematography captures the flying sensation well and certain shots are simply beautiful. First with "Iron Man 3" and now "Shazam!," it's wonderful to see a superhero film set during Christmas. The film doesn't go overboard with including certain decorations and musical cues, but it is made to fit within the story. The score hearkens back to the classical tunes of traditional superheroes like Superman. It may not be one of the great superhero film scores, but Benjamin Wallfisch succeeds in capturing the spirit of its characters with his music.
While all five have great personalities, Billy's five foster sibling vary in screen time and depth. Jack Dylan Grazer's Freddie, the witty superhero fanatic, has the most focus, which makes sense as he is one who assists Billy on his journey of self-discovery. Freddie has countless jokes and a moving backstory that don't confuse his character. Freddie might be my favorite of Billy's five foster siblings, but it's hard to choose when you have Darla to consider. Played by Faithe Herman, Darla is the kind of character you swear was an angel that came straight down from heaven. Once she appears, she's instantly delightful and would prove to be a perfect part of the story. Her enthusiasm is adorable and infectious. She gets you right in the feels when she instantly considers Billy a brother. Mary, Eugene, and Pedro, the remaining three siblings, were fun to watch, but were not developed a ton. For a sequel, I would like to see the three get more time to flesh out their personalities more.
Going into the film, I was eager about seeing Mark Strong's Dr. Thaddeus Sivana, given how he was almost nonexistent in the marketing. Tragic villains aren't especially uncommon in superhero films, and villains that mirror the heroes are even less uncommon. However, Sivana is now one of the great examples of that villain type as he's given a personality and motivations that are genuinely effective. The character has a background that's rooted in tragedy and it's so strong that you relate to the villain, even though he later enacts horrific deeds. He's relatable because he has defects that are so common and simple. Strong's Savanna is another ideal example of what future villains should be like as more superhero films are made. However, his goal was unclear. In the film, without giving away much, Sivana wants Shazam's abilities. I won't write how he gets them, but by their first meeting, Sivana already possesses abilities that are similar to Shazam's. He can fly, shoot lighting, is super strong, and bulletproof, so what would be the point of possessing Shazam's abilities if they're similar? Is it because he wants more power? Is that it? I don't think the film cleared that up entirely. In spite of the pothole, Mark Strong's Dr. Thaddeus Sivana is one of the best villains the DC franchise has had to date.
On the subject of the film's technical quality, the action and CGI serve the film well. The action isn't especially breathtaking, but they are entertaining sequences. A majority of the CGI is well done, with the exception of one wonky inclusion, which I dare not spoil. The cinematography captures the flying sensation well and certain shots are simply beautiful. First with "Iron Man 3" and now "Shazam!," it's wonderful to see a superhero film set during Christmas. The film doesn't go overboard with including certain decorations and musical cues, but it is made to fit within the story. The score hearkens back to the classical tunes of traditional superheroes like Superman. It may not be one of the great superhero film scores, but Benjamin Wallfisch succeeds in capturing the spirit of its characters with his music.
Grade: A-
If you're seeking a superhero film with likable characters, sincerity, and one that's both ebullient and profound, say "Shazam!" and get ready for an instant classic.
Another great thing about "Shazam!" is that it's accessible to all. You don't need a pre-existing knowledge of the character or have needed to see other DC films to enjoy it. This is a film that I definitely recommend seeing in theaters. I understand that "Avengers: Endgame" is almost here, but you shouldn't miss out on this one. "Shazam!" is a great family film if you have children that are eight and up. While this is playing in 3D, it's not required in order to get immersed in this world and the characters in it.
Conclusion
This has been my review of "Shazam!" If you haven't seen it, are you planning to now? I welcome any thoughts you might have about my review and the film. In addition, if there's a film you want me to review next, feel free to recommend it in the comments before. Thanks for reading, I'm Dallin, the film fanatic, and I'll be back with another editorial.
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