The DC Extended Universe has experienced quite the resurgence following a much needed change of pace by inserting a more adventurous and lighter tone in their films. It began last December with the Jason Momoa led "Aquaman" - with the King of the Seven Seas dominating the box office and taking us on a wild sea adventure full of action and spectacle. Now another hero rises to take us on a coming of age journey like no other.. And it's full of the stuff that kids and adults will enjoy because the hero in literally a Man Child with powers!!!
Of course, I'm talking about Billy Batson - a kid searching for his family who ends up in foster care and the unwitting inheritor of magical powers that turns him into a powerful adult with superpowers called "SHAZAM!". Based on the DC Comics superhero of the same name, this is a movie that serves as a representation of every kid's dream fantasy of turning into a superhero - what do you do with all that power when you get it and how will you use it? Thanks to director David F. Sandberg we get the answer in a FUN ENERGETIC MOVIE that introduces us to a hero who is relatable and a kid at heart... Literally!
Thanks to Warner Bros. Philippines, I got to see the movie last March 28 during the IMAX press screening - and the format is all kinds of WOW bringing Billy and his big boy alter ego to life as he faces off a dark reflection of himself in Dr. Thaddeus Sivana! As a fan of the DC Universe, how does this film fare bringing this particular magic powered hero to the big screen? Well here we go with the review to "Say The Word"!
Movie: SHAZAM!
Distributed by: Warner Bros. Philippines
Set in the same time and universe that Henry Cavill's Superman and Ben Affleck's Batman populate, SHAZAM! stars Asher Angel and Zachary Levi in the lead - sharing the dual roles of Billy Batson and the titular hero respectively! As a young kid desperately searching for his mother, Billy's delinquency puts him in the graces of a foster family who takes care of him but cannot temper his determination to search for his blood. However all that is just a prelude to a greater journey for the boy, as an old wizard summons him to take on his powers and magic after the evil demonic representations of the Seven Deadly Sins are let loose on humanity. Billy's destiny is thrust upon him when he is called to serve as the new defender of humanity and the Rock of Eternity. By uttering the wizard's name "SHAZAM!", he transforms into an adult filled with fantastic godlike abilities - yet retains the same personality and childlike behaviour he's always had. Thanks to the help of his foster brother Freddy, Billy learns (and exploits) what it means to be a superhero - but he'll find out first hand what power and responsibility mean when he has to stop a madman from unleashing evil on the world and hurting those he has grown to appreciate as a true family.
Like any child's superhero fantasy come to life, SHAZAM! plays on the fun and joy of ACTUALLY putting a kid in the position of becoming a hero and learning how to be one - despite all the goofy, silly, and yes dirty stuff that come with that job position. It's the kind of learning curve scenario that we've always wanted to see in a being that has all the gifts magic and destiny can bring - but has no real clue or idea on how to use it! It's the reverse of Superman being born and raised by a loving family, or Batman channeling his fear and anger into a lifelong mission to fight crime - Asher Angel's Billy Batson is just a kid who was plucked out of nowhere and given these amazing abilities. Zachary Levi on the other hand is just HILARIOUS playing the kid's alter ego - shooting lightning out of his hands and being called Captain Sparkles something because he can't come up with a good name yet. Plus his foster brother/ best friend Freddy played by Jack Dylan Grazer is the other kid whose disability masks a very hyper and fanboy mind that helps both bring the abilities of Shazam out slowly but surely - one YouTube demonstration at a time!
Then there's the rest of the foster family Billy has - including Mary, Eugene, Pedro, and Darla, as well as their foster parents Victor and Rosa Vasquez. All are important and funny individuals who show Billy that it's not only blood that makes for family, and it is instrumental in making him fight for something that helps him become a true superhero with power and responsibility balanced. The same cannot be said for Mark Strong's Dr. Thaddeus Sivana - who's relationship with Shazam! is what I called a "Dark Reflection" and perfect opposite to Billy who he has to stop with whatever it takes.
Overall, I will say that SHAZAM! is perfect with the laughs and heroics - a formula that Warner Bros. and DC have FINALLY balanced and "cracked the code" to following their other hits like Wonder Woman and Aquaman! Everything is SUPER CHARGED in this ELECTRIFYING DEMONSTRATION of kid turned hero - and it's a FUN RIDE everybody needs to see to the very end - with two post credits scenes to watch out for!
RATING - 5/5 SPARKLES!!!
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