Movie Review: “Shazam!” is the most entertaining live-action DC movie since “The Dark Knight”

Movie Review: “Shazam!” (PG-13)

Let’s get this out of the way right up front: “Shazam!” is DC’s most entertaining big-screen live-action superhero movie since “The Dark Knight.” This proclamation will most likely be a controversial one, particularly for fans of “Wonder Woman” (news flash: I liked that film, too), but I stand by it. “Shazam!” is a ton of fun, and it’s pretty much what the marketing campaign has been suggesting it is for the last several months: An infectiously likable fusion of “Superman” and “Big.”

In this big-screen treatment of the DC property, teenage foster kid Billy Batson (played by Asher Angel) unleashes his inner adult-superhero self whenever he utters the word “Shazam!” all thanks to a power bestowed upon him by a mythological being (played by Djimon Hounsou). Said superhero appears in the form of affable “Chuck” star Zachary Levi. Alongside his goofy but likable superhero-loving foster brother, Freddy (played by scene-stealer Jake Dyan Grazer of “It” fame), Batson sets out to do what any kid his age with newly found superhero powers would do: Attempt to fly, zap objects with his electrical-charge abilities, buy beer, and hit up a strip club. After all, with great power comes great irresponsibility. That said, following a handful of goofy shenanigans, playtime comes to an abrupt halt when a big bad (played by Mark Strong) hell bent on acquiring the same power Batson has quickly enters the equation. Shortly thereafter, Batson is forced to grow up immediately if he’s going to keep his loved ones safe and protect the city he now calls home.

When it was announced that this film was going to be directed by David F. Sandberg, heads were simultaneously scratched. Was the crafty (and thrifty) horror director behind “Lights Out” and “Annabelle: Creation” really the right guy to helm a lighthearted superhero movie? Well, save for a couple of surprisingly darker elements and some slightly juvenile hijinks, it turns out that he was, in fact, the right guy for the job. In addition to Sandberg’s obvious love of the source material — made famous not only by the comic but also by a ’70s Saturday morning TV show that was as synonymous with my youth as “Sesame Street” — it’s clear that this filmmaker is a great big fanboy at heart as is evident by the number of winks made at the countless films that have clearly inspired him throughout the years. Among them are “Ghostbusters,” “Robocop,” “Army of Darkness,” and nearly every superhero property you can shake a stick at.

That said, Sandberg’s horror side definitely shows on occasion, most notably during an intense and unpredictably dark sequence in which Strong’s Dr. Sivana brings a board meeting to a deadly close. That said, Sivana is the big bad here, and they say a superhero is only as strong as his villain.

Speaking of superheros, “Shazam!” does take place in a world where other heroes exist, but Sandberg and crew tread lightly. This isn’t akin to a Marvel movie where we’re constantly being reminded that there’s a lot of other stuff going on outside the frame. This is, for the most part, a self-contained movie, and hopefully, if this becomes a franchise, the folks at DC and Warner Brothers will keep it that way.

And let’s hope that if this thing continues, the key players are brought back. Zachary Levi is an absolute bundle of spirited joy as Batson’s older superhuman self. He’s fun and goofy, but once he’s forced to grow up, the transformation is easy to accept, because Levi totally sells it. Big time props are in order to Grazer. This kid is an absolute riot. He really is a scene stealer in every sense of the term. And that lively giggle of his is positively infectious.

Strong also proves to be effective as the villainous Dr. Sivana — although, once again, it should be noted that there are times in this picture when he’s so evil that one can’t help but think that perhaps he jumped into “Shazam!” from a completely different movie. That said, his motivation is clear, and Sivana’s deep-rooted daddy issues play into this movie’s primary theme of family.

There are certainly aspects of “Shazam!” that don’t work, high among them being a subplot featuring Batson’s biological mother. This scenario feels underdeveloped and unrealistic, even in the context of a fantastical superhero movie. Further still, “Shazam!” is a little overstuffed and a bit on the long side. All of that said, creative visual effects, a rousing score, a wonderful sense of humor, an outstanding cast, and a handful of delightful surprises — the goings on in the final act are particularly noteworthy — make for a great time at the movies.

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