On 6 February 2020, I watched the 2019 DC super-hero movie Shazam!, directed by David F. Sandberg – which was an absolute delight.
Unlike most super-heroes, the alter-ego of Shazam (aka DC's Captain Marvel, but wholly unrelated to the Marvel Comics' same-named character and his/her various incarnations) is not an adult but rather a young teenager. Namely, 14-year-old Billy Batson (played by Asher Angel), who becomes the adult fully-costumed super-hero Shazam (Zachary Levi), wielding numerous incredible powers, whenever he says the magic word "Shazam!".
Because of this, much hilarity stems from Shazam's somewhat naive, goofy nature, bearing in mind that he retains a 14-year-old's mind and experience inside his fully-developed adult exterior. In turn, it makes the movie a much more comedic super-hero outing than is usual with this genre, and is all the better for it, because certain such movies have taken themselves way too seriously, especially as – and let's be honest here – their basic premise tends to be some guy or dame prancing around in an often outrageously camp, OTT disguise.
The storyline provides the origin for Shazam – while on a subway train, disaffected teenage foster-child Billy Batson is abruptly transported to a magical temple named the Rock of Eternity and there given his powers as well as a magical staff by an ancient sorcerer, the original Shazam, who considers that Billy, albeit still young, possesses the desired pure of heart qualities to receive his powers and take his place, becoming his champion and continuing his fight for good against evil. After duly bestowing his powers upon a thoroughly bewildered Billy, the sorcerer turns to dust, meaning that there's no opting-out option for Billy. Oops.
Aided by his best friend Freddy, Billy gradually discovers the nature and extent of the super-powers gained by him whenever he transforms into Shazam, but he ultimately learns that his powers are much sought-after by a certain Thaddeus Sivana. More than 40 years prior to Billy but just like him, Sivana had himself been transported while still a youngster to the Rock of Eternity by the sorcerer, who had hoped that Sivana would be suitable to replace him, but promptly rejected him when Sivana became tempted by the Seven Deadly Sins that the sorcerer had imprisoned there, encased inside statues of solid stone.
Ever since, Sivana has sought every means possible of returning to the Rock of Eternity in order to gain the sorcerer's powers. Eventually he succeeds, where he frees the Seven Deadly Sins and contains all of them within himself, thereby affording him immense strength and super-powers of his own. However, those that Sivana covets most are the ones that he was denied – the sorcerer's – so he is none too pleased to find not only that Billy was brought to the Rock by the sorcerer too, but also that the latter mage duly gave him his powers freely and willingly.
So Sivana seizes those who are nearest and dearest to Billy, in order to force Billy into surrendering his powers to him – which is when the sparks really begin to fly, in every sense! Certainly, there are some spectacular CGI inclusions, most notably the Seven Deadly Sins and the battle scenes featuring them. Also, both actors playing Shazam/Billy Batson portray their roles very engagingly, especially Zachary's extremely funny man-boy performance.
Incidentally, it's always worth sitting through the seemingly interminable list of credits rolling by at the end of a super-hero movie, because there is often a brief scene inserted among them that serves as a possible taster for future developments in that hero's franchise. And sure enough, appearing in just such a mid-credits scene in Shazam! is the now-imprisoned Sivana being approached by what looks like a small talking caterpillar, who proposes that they enter into an alliance. Although it is not identified in that scene, it seems highly likely that the communicative creature in question is none other than Mister Mind, a telepathic alien worm who is one of Shazam's arch-enemies.
Shazam! is an undeniably offbeat but much-welcomed addition to the super-hero panoply, and apparently a sequel is already in the works - can't wait!
And to see what I mean, click here and here to view a couple of eye-popping official Shazam! trailers on YouTube.
And to view a complete listing of all of my Shuker In MovieLand blog's other film reviews and articles (each one instantly accessible via a direct clickable link), please click HERE!
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