“Shazam!” entertains viewers with its heartfelt charm, lacks shock value

Penelope Misceo

Staff Writer

Following after its influences, “Shazam!” explores the possibilities of an seemingly ordinary civilian when he is handed the power of a superhero.

“Shazam!” charms its viewers with its genuine, earnest spirit and occasional wit. While the superhero flick is predictable, it can be appreciated for what it is; a family-friendly film about the true power of family.

Released on April 5, “Shazam!” is directed by David F. Sandberg, and stars Asher Angel as Billy Batson and Zachary Levi as his superhero pseudonym, Shazam. The film also features Jack Dylan Grazer as a pivotal supporting character, Freddy Freeman.

“Shazam!” tells the story of Billy Batson, a foster teen looking for his birth mom, who he was separated from at a young age. Billy is taken in by kind foster parents, Rosa (Rosa Vasquez), and Victor (Cooper Andrews). While getting to know his new foster siblings and parents, Billy is sucked into a alternate world, where he meets an elderly man who hands off his power to Billy. When Billy activates his powers, he is turned into an adult, and can create a surge of lighting by saying the word shazam.

The film begins with strong characterization and an immediate connection to the characters, specifically its main protagonist, Billy. While he is flawed, the audience is rooting for him nevertheless. “Shazam!” also utilizes its funny and likeable supporting characters to add its own charm. The sometimes witty dialogue and one-liners give the film its own playful, unique nuance. Billy’s growing friendship with his foster brother, Freddy, also make for heartfelt moments.

While the concept of “Shazam!” is nothing new, it has factors that set it apart from films of its same genre. The fitting and playful soundtrack create a fresh take, yet vintage feel. Using songs like “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen, “Shazam!” seems to, whether intentionally or not, make subtle references to current pop culture. This makes it easy for the viewer to immerse theirself in the film, as if it was happening right outside the theatre.

An interesting, relatable aspect of the film is that the kids who gain their own superpowers are fans of superheroes themselves. “Shazam!” tells the audience a story about real, relatable kids, rather than writing characters to match a trope.

Possibly the most emotional moment of “Shazam!” is the scene in which Billy finally finds his birth mom, and discovers that she actually saw Billy when they were seperated, but decided to leave him alone anyway. Well-timed and transitioned, the scene is pivotal in Billy’s development and shapes his character for the rest of the film.

“Shazam!”, while following after superhero movies before it, provides the audience with a fun, genuinely sentimental film. Its ability to combine action, humor and tender moments make for a well-rounded movie. Using its unique wit and style, “Shazam!” leaves its viewers slightly nostalgic and pleased as they leave the theatre.

“Shazam!” released on April 5 and is available in theatres nationwide.