We all have a superhero inside of us -- it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In 14-year-old Billy Batson's case, all he needs to do is shout out one word to transform into the adult superhero Shazam. Still a kid at heart, Shazam revels in the new version of himself by doing what any other teen would do -- have fun while testing out his newfound powers. But he'll need to master them quickly before the evil Dr. Thaddeus Sivana can get his hands on Shazam's magical abilities.
Rating:PG-13 (Language|Intense Sequences of Action|Suggestive Material)
Movie Review :- Just say the word… And that word is ‘Underrated’ I can remember going into Shazam with very little hype and excitement, but then coming out of it thinking, what a pleasant surprise! Not knowing much about the character, I went into the film with a fresh set of eyes and boy, did I love what I saw… The DCEU has been mostly a mixed bag unfortunately, but Shazam is arguably one of their better films! In my opinion, this film deserves more love and attention! The film manages to mix up a dazzling array of ingredients to reinvigorate and innovate the increasingly tired superhero genre: It works as a relatable coming-of-age story with immaculate character development and emotion, a compelling superhero origin story with powerful theme explorations, it has some horror elements, and it’s even a Christmas film too! I have a sneaky suspicion that it might elevate itself to the top of some lists there… It’s very self-aware and it certainly lives up to it’s future cult classic status. The film plays with the idea of what would a kid do if they were given superpowers? As a lifelong superhero fan and as someone who use to dream about being a superhero myself, I quickly found myself thinking ‘What would I do?’ This whole film is every child’s dream! Of course, the film explores what every kid would do if they became a superhero: Buy alcohol, skip school, go to a strip club, try to make money out of their newfound abilities, and attempt to figure out what other superpowers they may possess! Next, Zachary Levi… Oh boy, I cannot even find the words to describe how much joy he brought to this canvas! This is honestly the Zachary Levi role I never knew I wanted?! Zachary Levi was born to play this role! In fact, I might need some convincing he's not actually a teenager in a man's body? He has an effortless delivery, comedic presence, and fun atmosphere/vibe that brings honour to the character, fits with the muscular strength superheroes should have, and exudes an old-world, nostalgic, classic Superman class and aura! This is a lifetime casting and I couldn't possibly be happier with the results. The supporting cast works, too, especially the superb young actor, Jack Dylan Grazer, who is absolutely hilarious! He is arguably the film’s real MVP… The foster kids themselves all feel very reminiscent of the Goonies too, which I loved. Mark Strong’s villainous character is also surprisingly relatable too, especially with his whole ‘Why not me?’ motivation… Shazam is not only a film that DC clearly needed at the time, but a film that may create new fans of the genre. I think back to the first time I watched the original Spider-Man in 2002, and the feelings I had way back when that created the very fan writing this review right now… That same feeling can be brought to youngsters watching this film. It’s a celebration of youth. The sense attained when reading their first superhero comic, playing with their first action figures, or throwing a blanket over your shoulder while casting your best friend as the evil, sinister villain were all on display! It’s not a film I asked for, but indeed a film I am genuinely happy exists. Overall, there’s a real joy to be had by watching Shazam, a contagious feeling of childish glee and enthusiasm induced by the fact the film’s creators clearly loved what they were making. Full of heart; charm, fun, wish fulfilment and utter delightful, Shazam is a film for the whole family to enjoy!
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