Imagine Gary Winick’s “13 Going on 30,” but without the stress of renting in New York City and instead transforming into a goofy superman doppelganger. DC Comics' latest solo entry “Shazam,” is a fun and deceivingly dark entry that promises potential for DC’s inconsistent cinematic universe.
Directed by David Sandberg, “Shazam” finds its emotional core and compelling storytelling through its exploration of family. The movie invested itself in Billy Batson (Asher Angel), an orphan on a relentless quest to find his mother. After another fruitless lead, Billy finds himself fostered by Victor (Cooper Andrews) and Rosa (Marta Milans) Vasquez.
He meets his foster brother, Frederick ‘Freddy’ Freeman (Jack Grazer), who happens to be an expert on everything superhero related. Billy, after defending Freddy from their high school’s bullies, finds himself in the presence of a powerful wizard (Dijimon Hounsou) and here we meet Shazam (a perfectly cast, Zachary Levi).
Sandberg dedicated a notable amount of time to the interactions between Billy and his new foster family. Grazer is at his comedic best, a frenzy of witty remarks and a whirlwind of energy, he matched Levi’s youthful vigor as Shazam.
Andrews as Victor Vasquez exudes a warmth not yet seen in the DC universe. He is the father figure that every DC fan has been craving since “Man of Steel.” Billy’s foster siblings are a joy to watch. Their loyalty to one another is fierce, and the relationship they build with Billy pays dividends in the final act.
Adorning a hyper-saturated, skin-tight red suit, with a large lightning bolt on his chest, Shazam is difficult to ignore. His power is (unsurprisingly) lightning, matching Zeus’ mastery of the element. There is an energy and innocence that Levi brings to the character. Angel and Levi’s performances are impressively in sync. When Billy switches from his fifteen year old form to that of a superhero, the transformation is flawless. Levi’s youthful energy is that of a fifteen year old.
A superhero, and especially DC's film adaptation of one, can only be judged by its antagonist. Christopher Nolan set the standard from which all superhero movies are judged in his “Dark Night Trilogy,” particularly in Heath Ledger’s unforgettable portrayal as the Joker.
Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong) is this standard for Shazam. He was an outcast in an affluent family as a child, and was rejected by the Wizard. The rejection and the aftermath that immediately followed, sets the stage for a villain that is able to demand empathy from the audience.
After years obsessing over that fateful night, Dr. Sivana returns and becomes the champion of the seven sins. Dr. Sivana has a tragic backstory, an outcast, and is menacing once obtaining the power of the seven sins.
By all means this is a recipe for a compelling villain. How does Dr. Sivana hold his own in a field of expanding memorable villains?
Strong has found a steady job playing Hollywood’s go-to bad guy. He is smart, elegant and embodies just the right amount of masculinity. The fault of “Shazam,” is the concerning lack of screen time of Dr. Sivana. The seven sins that provide him with his godlike strength are menacing and inject a satisfyingly dark tone to the story. When he was on screen, Dr. Sivana was able to balance, and sober, Shazam’s youth.
“Shazam,” succeeds through its exploration of family and its delightfully comedic tone. The jarring nightmare that the “Justice League” was is all but in the past. “Shazam” is undeniably funny and balances the comedic tone with convincing story telling. If “Shazam” is any indication of the direction that DC intends to head, there may just be a bright future for their cinematic universe.
Justin Schatz is a freelance reporter and photographer for the Daily Lobo. He can be contacted by email at culture@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @JustinSchatz10.
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