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Film

SHAZAM! Review – DC’s Answer to Deadpool


One day, the foster kid Billy Batson gets the chance to prove himself to be more than just a boy when he gets the ability to transform into a hero using one word. But a problem arises when a powerful threat emerges that threatens both him and his family.

Before the movie started, I and the rest of the audience that were attending the screening got told by the director David Sandberg told us movies that were influences for this project. These were The Goonies, Ghostbusters, and Superman: The Movie. After watching this project, you can see were, and they fit like a hand to a glove.

The children are very reminiscent to the kids from The Goonies, and the influence of Richard Donner’s (Superman: The Movie) work is there while adding their own flair to it. The execution they use for magic and the titular character’s superpowers feels straight out of Ghostbusters in all the right ways. There is even a scene in the movie that I wonder if it was meant to be a homage.

The movie contains the heart, charm, and sense of evolution that you would expect from a character like Shazam. It is also worth mentioning that this comic book movie is quite self-aware. Self-aware in the sense that they know what it is and what they want to be. It is not to the level of Deadpool, but it’s so close. It’s also one of the funniest movies I’ve seen in a long time.

Even though every actor does a great job with their material, the majority of the actors gets outshined by Zachary Levi (Shazam) and Asher Angel (Billy Batson). They work well together. The villain Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (played by Mark Strong) works very well for the movie. His motives are clear, understandable and straight forward. Mark’s interaction with Zach great to see.

The only negative I have about this movie is that some moment was a bit too much on the cheese factor for me. These moments however were few and far between that you might call this a nitpick.

No matter if you are a fan of the genre or not, this is a movie that I recommend. It’s two hours of pure fun and enjoyment. Shazam! is something you can compare to a Pixar or Dreamworks film. It is a movie that everyone can enjoy, filled with moments for both children and adults alike.

Remember to stay during the credits since there is two after credit scenes that appear. One is arguably more important than the other, but even so, remember to stay so you don’t miss anything.

4 Sparkle Fingers out of 5

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Shazam! bolts into theaters April 5th.

Isak Wolff
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Co-host of the Amateur Otaku Podcast. A writer of many things. Loves everything nerdy from anime/manga to comics and video games. Fire Emblem is the greatest of all time.