I got to admit Shazam! looked stupid and my interest never really got up for it. Once again though, when I go into this highly billed movie with little to no expectations, I came away with a change of heart. Shazam! will never be in the same conversation as DC legends Superman or Batman, but this is the kind of movie the DC universe needed to make people forget about a string of bad projects lately.
Shazam! is funny and has a heart of gold. I thought it was weird to have such a comical character in such a serious story about family, disappointed, and reluctance to do the right thing at the right time. But really all those things are what made the characters so innocent and pure. Shazam! was suppose to be the “champion” and defend the seven evil sins who want to control the world. Only someone with a good heart could take the mantle and despite his troubled youth, Billy Batson (Asher Angel) is the right man for the job.
This is a great introductory movie because Mark Strong plays an amazing bad guy. Much like his greedy and cutthroat character in the Kick-Ass, his ability to be believable as an all power keeper of sin really upped the game of good vs. evil. His character’s back story also flows alongside the overall story about abandonment and the real meaning of family.
Like I said early, my anticipation for Shazam! was on the same level as watching some low-budget independent film I never heard featuring people I didn’t know existed. I stand corrected with those thoughts and recommend everyone watch Shazam! You can’t go into this comparing it to iconic superhero movies of the past or future, just go and get entertained by a goofy superhero movie unlike any other. 7/10
Ten Stars or Less 