Shazam! - A Movie Review

Shazam! That’s strange. Aren’t I supposed to turn into a superhero now?

Shazam! Is a 2019 film about a young boy in foster care discovering superpowers. While he is trying to grasp life as a foster kid, his superhero counterpart fends off an unexpected villain.

Thinking that I wasn’t going to enjoy Shazam! I was proved wrong. Shazam! is a hilarious superhero film. There were a few occasions where I actually laughed out loud at some unexpected jokes. It has a strong message regarding foster care, friendship, and being true to yourself.

The first time that I ever saw Zachary Levi’s perform was in the Broadway musical, First Date: The Musical. Levi knows how to make people laugh. Because Billy (Asher Angel) has the power to transform into a new person because of these new superpowers, he questions whether to use his powers for good or to show off. Levi’s genuine kid-like reactions trapped in an adult’s body were very well acted.

Levi and Angel did a great job studying one another’s personality traits to use in their performances. Whether it was his own character choice, Angel kept his character closed off, but as his superhero counterpart, Shazam, he displayed emotions that he normally wouldn’t show. Sometimes I forgot that Shazam was supposed to be Billy. We should not be afraid to be open about our emotions.

One reason that I became interested in looking into this film was Jack Dylan Grazer. I became a fan of Grazer ever since I watched him as Eddie Kaspbrak in IT. Freddy is a highlight of the film. He also provides a great source of comedy. Not only does Freddy stand by Billy’s side in matters of crisis, but he also attains as a leader to kids who have walking disabilities. Never give up and always keep moving forward no matter the obstacle.

I was very impressed with the child actors. Playing the other foster kids, Faithe Herman, Grace Fulton, Ian Chen, and Jovan Armand did a terrific job. They had equal story-lines, harboring different personalities.

Foster care is shown in a positive light in Shazam! Family doesn’t have to be blood. I found the interactions between the family heartwarming. For anyone who is or was a foster child, Shazam! reflects foster families in a positive light instead of making up a dramatic scene just for the sake of drama.

Other credits to include are Mark Strong, Djimon Hounsou, Marta Milans, Cooper Andrews, John Glover, Adam Brody, Meagan Good, Michelle Borth, Ross Butler, and D.J. Cotrona. Be on the lookout for some clever cameos.

I have not seen many superhero movies. Shazam! is a different take on superhero films entertaining audiences with different themes. For one, it does not focus heavily on drama. Instead, the comedy is given more of a chance to evolve.

There could have been a better motivation for the villain, but I understood why they went down these lines. Towards the end I felt that it was getting a little tedious with all the crime-fighting action.

David F. Sandberg did an excellent job in his direction. I could see that he wanted to pay more attention to the characters than the actual action which is what most action movies fall under. I laughed. I teared up. And I felt a genuine relationship in the foster family. Sandberg definitely knew how to do comedy.

If you are in search of a needed laugh, I recommend that you watch Shazam! It is entertaining from beginning to end. You sure to learn a good lesson about the power of good and change.