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By Nathan Hurlbut
Could there be anything more appealing to a 14-year-old kid than being able to turn into an adult superhero whenever they wanted?
That’s exactly the premise of ‘Shazam!’, and the movie brings that wish-fulfillment fantasy to life with generous helpings of humor and heart.
The entire film is filtered through an adolescent boy’s perspective, making Billy Batson’s (Asher Angel) enthusiasm for discovering his newly acquired powers that much more endearing. This is most obvious in scenes with his nerdy foster brother Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer)- a self-described authority on superhero mythology- who helps Billy document his emerging superhero persona. The excitement with which they slowly unearth the extent of Billy’s superhero abilities is contagious here, as each subsequent discovery is greeted with a genuine mix of surprise and awe.
It reveals that, as an adult superhero, Billy still retains his childlike sense of wonder. Watching the adult superhero version of Billy (played by Zachary Levi) react to situations with the perspective of an adolescent proves immensely entertaining. You soon realize Billy greatest battle may be addressing the fact that he is frequently in over his head in this adult world.
Herein lies one of the film’s most charming qualities- its refusal to take itself too seriously. For example, when Billy is solemnly told by an ancient wizard (Djimon Hounsou) that he needs to utter the phrase ‘Shazam!’ to become a superhero, streetwise Billy greets the situation with the snarky response of, “You’re kidding me, right?” The characters in the movie are also amusingly unable to provide Billy with a consistent superhero name, as if the filmmakers themselves were making fun of the fact they were making a movie with the title of ‘Shazam!’ itself.
The film isn’t all fun and games, however. Yes, Billy does battle a token arch nemesis here, played with a convincing degree of emotional dysfunction by Mark Strong as Dr. Thaddeus Sivana. However, Billy also wrestles with the responsibilities that having such powers entails, as in when he feels obligated to save innocent people caught in a perilous situation he inadvertently created in the first place.
There are other, more adult themes here as well. One heartbreaking scene involves Billy discovering why his mother hadn’t actively been looking for him all these years, and only strengthens the bond Billy feels with his adopted family. Meanwhile, the contrast between his brother Freddy’s physical disabilities and Billy’s ability to transform into a superhero at the drop of a hat frequently makes for a strained relationship.
It is this realistic emotional bonding that happens with Billy’s newly acquired foster family that is the film’s true secret weapon. This is perhaps best represented in his little sister Darla’s (Faithe Herman) adorable addiction to giving hugs at a moment’s notice. Watching as these foster family members work, both individually and collectively, to overcome the harsh realities that life has dealt them is inspiring to watch. Witnessing them eventually unite to battle dark forces together is about as heartwarming a scenario as you can imagine, making ‘Shazam!’ a winning entry in the superhero movie universe.