Into the DC Murderverse: "SHAZAM!"

 "SHAZAM!" (2019)

Who would've thought that a character that is basically a Superman knock off with a complicated publishing history would help DC put out not only one of its best movies, but one of the best superhero movies ever. I said what I said. A touching, funny, action packed film about how the most loving families aren't necessarily families that you are born into but the families you make. 

Principal photography on "SHAZAM!" began on January 29, 2018 and concluded on May 11, 2018. The film stars Zachary Levi as Shazam, Asher Angel as Billy Batson, Mark Strong as Dr. Thaddeus Sivana, Jack Dylan Grazer as Frederick "Freddy" Freeman with Adam Brody playing the adult version, Djimon Honsou as the Wizard Shazam, Faithe Herman as Darla Dudley with Meagan Good playing the adult version, Grace Fulton as Mary Bromfield with Michelle Borth playing the adult version, Ian Chen as Eugene Choi with Ross Butler playing the adult version, Joavan Armand as Pedro Pena with D.J. Cotrona playing the adult version, Marta Milans as Rosa Vasquez, Cooper Andrews as Victor Vasquez and John Glover as Mr. Sivana. The film was written by Henry Gayden. It was directed by David F. Sandberg. "SHAZAM!" was released on April 5, 2019.

Adulting.

I just love this movie. I adored it from the moment I first saw it in theaters and I find new things to love about it every time I watch it again. It is extremely charming and is the antithesis of the dark, dimmed, broody movies that Zack Snyder was making. It's fun and despite what you may have heard, fun isn't a dirty word. 

"SHAZAM!" opens on a snowy Christmas Eve filled with dysfunction and child abuse, a young boy told by an aging wizard he's not pure of heart enough, followed by a horrific car crash that the boy is blamed for that cripples his father. I know what you're thinking. Are you sure that Zack Snyder didn't direct this? Its a great opening that sets things up nicely and we get to see John Glover falling back on his Lionel Luthor schtick from "Smallville" and you know, I'm here for it. Casting Glover is a nice nod to DC history because not only was he on "Smallville," but he also voiced the Riddler in "Batman: The Animated Series" and played Dr. Jason Woodrue in "Batman & Robin." Good stuff.

A lot of "SHAZAM!"s success is directly because of Zachary Levi. I've been a huge fan of Levi ever since he starred in the underrated sci-fi classic series, "Chuck." Levi is the perfect person to play an adult with the mind of a teenager. Levi is handsome and buff but he retains this goofy, boyish charm which helps make him remain likable even when he is doing some really douche-y stuff. Levi has strong comedy chops that shine when he is testing out his super powers, putting on a "Eye of the Tiger" themed show in front of the Rocky statue or facing his very first supervillain. Levi and Jack Dylan Grazer's Freddy Freeman have great buddy cop style chemistry and their partnership never comes off as creepy and I think it very easily could have.

Sinestro?!

The young actors in "SHAZAM!" are top notch. They can make or break a movie like this and they definitely make it. The clear standout is Grazer. He is hilarious and serves up most of the movie's one liners.  In the sequel, I'm going to need more Freddy. I want to know his backstory. I need it all. 

Asher Angel's Billy Batson is the emotional center of the film. He begins the movie punking cops and I will never not get behind that. Angel really sells Billy's transformation from "families are for suckers" orphan to a young man who has found the love he has been looking for in his chosen family of mishmashed brothers and sisters. Don't believe that Angel is a great actor? Just watch the scene where Billy finally finds his biological mother and she lets him know that she left him. It is heartbreaking and it is heartbreaking because Angel sells the scene and sell the moment where Billy's real transformation begins. Other standouts amongst the young cast are Faithe Herman's adorable Darla and Grace Fulton's Mary.

Mark Strong finally gets a chance to give us his supervillain bonafides in a movie that is actually good. Strong played Sinestro in the much maligned "Green Lantern." Strong is pitch perfect as the adult Dr. Thaddeus Sivana, still that hurt little boy who was so callously rejected by the wizard and blamed unfairly for his father's disability. Strong conveys the sadistic adult that Sivana is with the beaten down boy that he was. It's great.

Family!

The action in "SHAZAM!" is top notch. The special effects are great, particularly the Seven Deadly Sins. They could definitely have gone the way of Steppenwolf in Joss Whedon's version of "Justice League" and that is best case scenario. Worst case scenario, they could have looked like the claymation monsters from like the "Clash of the Titans" with Harry Hamlin. Don't get me wrong. "Clash of the Titans" and Harry Hamlin are both classics, but I'm not sure if they are right for the 2019 version of "SHAZAM!" Instead the monsters are well done and pretty terrifying, particularly in the boardroom scene where Sivana nonchalantly tosses his brother out the window and sets the sins on the rest of the board of the nebulous Sivana Industries. It's pretty chilling when he sets Greed on his pathetic, whimpering father.

"SHAZAM!" weirdly finally gives me what I've been looking for in a Superman movie. Shazam when he is in full hero mode feels more like Superman than Cavill's Superman does. The fun, the wonder, all of that. Shazam has it and its pretty great. His first confrontation with Sivana is amazing and the discovery of being able to fly brings me joy every single time. It's what I wanted from "Man of Steel" when Clark discovers he can fly but Snyder refuses to give you joy in his movies ever.

Family again!

The final battle in "SHAZAM!" where Billy gifts his newfound siblings with part of his powers is so freaking good. It's the emotional payoff of the movie and it feels really earned. I will never not tear up watching it. The adult version of the kids are all great, particularly Adam Brody, Meagan Good and D.J. Cotrona. Brody brings the right amount of sass and snark to the grown up version of Freddy. Meagan Good is positively adorable as the grown up Darla, stopping mid fight to let Santa know she's been a really good girl is perfect and D.J. Cotrona gives Pedro the most dialogue in the movie. Speaking of Pedro, the movie slyly lets us know he's gay when they leave the strip club and he informs everyone, its really not his scene. Its really nuanced and I kind of love it. I can see that people would be upset that the movie isn't more direct about it, but this is a teenager we're talking about and it feels right to me.

The final battle makes room for comedy, too. The scene where Sivana is shouting at Shazam in mid-air is priceless. Shazam can't make out anything he is saying and that is exactly what would happen. It is legitimately laugh out loud funny.

"SHAZAM!" does what I think all great superhero films should do. It brings joy. It uplifts you. I'm excited for DC to expand the "SHAZAM!" universe, something that is hinted at in the films mid credits scene. Sivana is confronted by the minuscule, evil caterpillar, Mister Mind, who was hinted at earlier in the film when they show his broken bell jar. There is a sequel to the movie, "SHAZAM! Fury of the Gods" scheduled to release in June of 2023 and a spin off film, "Black Adam," starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson scheduled to release next summer. I can't wait.

Next up, Harley Quinn's break up with the Joker causes her lots of problems and other Gotham ladies get pulled into her wake in "Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). 

It's over to you all. Do you love "SHAZAM!" as much as I do. Do you not? Feel free to explain why you are wrong in the comments.