Shazam! (2019)

Directed by: David F. Sandberg | 132 minutes | action, adventure | Actors: Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Adam Brody, Djimon Hounsou, Faithe Herman, Meagan Good, Grace Fulton, Michelle Borth, Ian Chen, Ross Butler, Jovan Armand, DJ Cotrona, Marta Milans, Cooper Andrews , Ethan Pugiotto, John Glover, Landon Doak, Wayne Ward

One of the best-selling DC Comics movies of recent years surprisingly doesn’t have Batman or Superman as the main character. And he doesn’t act like some Greek drama or tragic Shakespearean story, full of philosophical musings, which you don’t always expect in a superhero movie. Sure, if it’s done with intelligence and the cast and crew are talented enough, a movie like this can make a big impression – ‘The Dark Knight’, we’re looking at you – but unfortunately it often goes wrong. “Shazam!” manages to focus on fun and convey a heartwarming message, without being too sweet or ‘cheesy’. And also – not entirely unimportant – without losing sight of the action. The fact that an excellent cast has been hired obviously helps enormously. Without Zachary Levi as the title hero and the amusing and engaging Jack Dylan Grazer as his little sidekick Freddy, the film wouldn’t work nearly as well.

“Shazam!” simultaneously works as a superhero movie parody as a superhero movie in its own right. There are many references to Superman, Batman (both from the DC universe, of course), but also – directly and indirectly – to Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter and several other popular culture expressions. A very prominent reference or source of inspiration is the 1988 film ‘Big’, in which a small boy ends up in the body of an adult Tom Hanks.

The great thing is that Zachary Levi doesn’t have to bother at all to seem like a little kid. This is how he naturally behaves. He is hyperactive, is constantly having fun, and likes corny humor. Ideal for ‘Shazam!’ in which a fourteen-year-old boy is unexpectedly and unwittingly given the role – and body – of a powerful superhero by a theatrical wizard, who seems to have stepped straight out of a second-rate fantasy film.

It’s the start of a lot of jokes where Shazam with his newly acquired adult body continues to play the same tricks with his buddy and continues to talk in the same immature way. Very handy, of course, that he can now get drinks, go to a strip club – but is only interested in the snacks you can get there – and can skip school without experiencing the consequences (immediately). His laughable costume makes it all even more comical.

Just as comical is the fact that he has no idea what kind of powers he has. In a very amusing and smooth way he and Freddy try to find out what he can actually do. Is he bulletproof? Fire resistant? Only one way to find out… And while all of this probably sounds very bland on paper and the coin could have just fallen the wrong way, you almost always laugh or chuckle with them, instead of rolling your eyes.

The heart of the film is the story of family, home and friendship. And how a foster family doesn’t have to be the end, or a bad substitute for real, biological family. On the contrary. Again, most scenes and characters work surprisingly well. No overly obnoxious or annoyingly cute relatives. This danger is there for a moment with the small, cuddly Darla, but Faithe Herman manages to hit just the right note, helped by the script that is just subtle enough at important moments.

And then the action and tension: this one is here too! Well, you might not call it real tension, but the way in which the villain manifests itself certainly provides a nice shock effect or horrific moment here and there. Various chases and fights are also quite rousing. With a healthy dose of humor to give it its own sauce.

No negatives? Perhaps the script could have been a little more compact, and the villain a little more menacing or decisive. But actually, this is the ideal breezy summer blockbuster, to enjoy with a large bowl of popcorn on your lap. And just look again the next day…