Preview: Shazam! (2019)

Billy Batson is a boy in the foster system, determined to find his mother who lost him as a small boy. However after defending fellow foster teen Freddy, he is transported to a mysterious cave where a wizard is offering him his powers, which turn him into a super-powered adult but while he finds it cool to begin with, he realises he has to do more to save the city from Sivana, who as child was offered the same powers, but was tempted by an ancient evil instead, which he became obsessed with...

I won't be the first to bring this up and certainly won't be the last, but Shazam! is basically Big the superhero. But to simply call it that does the film a huge disservice. There is so much going on in this film, even if does have a rather good Big inspired gag at one point.

For Billy, he has much to learn, both about power and responsibility (which may or may not be an intentional nod towards Peter Parker and Spider-Man) when he gets his abilities and also about family and where he belongs. Sivana too has his own issues, with a strict father and a bully of a brother, who expect him to be more like them. It's these contrasts that add a bit more depth to Shazam! that perhaps you don't expect.

It's also a lot funnier that you might expect. Director David F. Sandberg has a horror background, directing Lights Out and Annabelle: Creation and there are certainly some dark moments in the film and he handles these well. But he brings a good, lighter touch to allow the humour out, as Freddy and Billy try to discover Shazam's powers, as well as in the early scenes of Shazam showing off.

The film is well written by Henry Gayden, which as I said both combines great humour in what could have been just another superhero origin story. A lot of superhero films have moments of humour, but often take themselves far too seriously at times. WB/DC often being guilty of this. So for a superhero film to be genuinely laugh out loud funny is a refreshing change. It's interesting that Shazam! is actually a New Line release through Warner Bros. so that may play a part in this.

That's not to say it's just a comedy. The action is great, but it's in the quieter moments that film does have an impact, as Billy tries to find where he belongs, while his foster parents try to give him the home he is looking for.

The cast are first rate. Zachary Levi plays Shazam, the older Billy and does so very well, capturing brilliantly a boy in man's body, but one with superpowers. Asher Angel plays the younger Billy and is good too, as he tries to find his real mother along with getting used to his new found power. Jack Dylan Grazer plays Freddy, the other foster child in the home who helps him and he too is good. Faithe Herman nearly steals the film though as fellow foster child Darla. Mark Strong plays Sivana and is as good as ever.

While the film is set in the DC film universe, it doesn't really tie itself to it. There are mentions of other heroes (a Batman gag is really funny) and the end credits have animated team-ups with other heroes, but it's not beholding to them. If you want a stand alone superhero film without watching  other films to get all the references, this might be for you.

Since the severely flawed Justice League film, one I admit I did enjoy despite them, WB/DC have decided to change how they were doing things, making each film work on its own, not needing to tie them together. And with both this and Aquaman so far, they are succeeding. Both have been a lot of fun. In fact ignoring the Justice League film, when you include Wonder Woman,WB/DC have been making some great stand alone superhero films recently.

Shazam! may not be the best of them, but it is by far, the funniest one. WB/DC are slowly getting their act together with their superheroes. It's about damn time.

Highly recommended.

Rating: 4/5