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Rating:
PG-13 (for intense sequences of action, language, and suggestive material)
Genre:
Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Directed By:
David F. Sandberg
Written By:
Henry Gayden
In Theaters:
Apr 5, 2019 wide
Runtime:
130 minutes
Studio:
New Line Cinema
The films in the world of the DC Universe haven't exactly been smooth
sailing from the beginning, but I would definitely say they've found
their stride in these last few years. From standalone films like Wonder
Woman and Aquaman, they're proving that taking a step back is sometimes
the best thing to do. Shazam! is the latest film to be added to this
collection of movies and while some may view it as incredibly cheesy, I
believe the majority of audiences will find it to be an absolute blast
as I did. Here's why, when Shazam! hits theatres, you should definitely
seek out a screening of it.
Following young Billy Batson at a very pivotal point in his life, after
having lost his mother and jumped between foster homes throughout the
years, he may have finally found one that works for him. Making friends
with one of the foster kids in Freddy Freeman, he's interrogated about
what superpowers he would love to have. Little does he know that he's
about to stumble upon a magical wizard who will grant him numerous
abilities and be able to turn himself back and forth between boy and
man. This may sound silly and that's because it is, but it's all done in
good fun and the story plays out very well on-screen.
When going into a film like this, you need to know what you're in for,
otherwise, you may find yourself cringing at the cheesiness of it all.
Shazam! embraces its cheese and pokes fun at classic films that it's
clearly borrowing from and even pokes fun at the fact that this film
even exists in the same world as movies like Man of Steel or Aquaman.
That being said, you absolutely don't have to see any prior films,
because this movie truly does stand on its own, which was a breath of
fresh air. In terms of pure enjoyment, this movie fires on all cylinders
and hits all the right notes, being a near-perfect film for what it's
striving to be.
On the other hand, where I feel this film continuously took a nose dive
was within the villain subplot. While Mark Strong gives his all here and
commits to creating a great character, the certain characters around
him and the burden that comes with the powers he has, felt very strange
and out of place in my opinion. Aside from that, I really have nothing
to complain about, but these things are very much present on multiple
occasions throughout the movie and I wasn't a big fan of them. The idea
behind them was interesting, but the overall execution just didn't quite
work for me.
In the end, Shazam! is a fantastic, comedic superhero flick, with a few
minor weaknesses throughout. Zachary Levi as the leading man is the
reason to see this movie alone, as his charisma and chemistry with Jack
Dylan Grazer is absolutely amazing. Aside from a few annoying aspects,
there is so much to love about this movie. I had a blast with it and I
think you will too. I definitely recommend checking this one out when it
hits theatres.
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