The latest movie in the DC Comics franchise, Shazam! is their best entry yet and surprisingly the most heartfelt.
Billy Batson (Asher Angel) a 14-year-old foster child, gains the abilities of the wizard Shazam, learns what it means to be heroic and becomes the hero Shazam (Zackary Levi).
This movie would have been a completely enjoyable experience if it chose to be a straight ahead lighthearted superhero story but it goes further than that.
Shazam! is action-packed and funny. But where it really shines is with its real and authentic characters.
Asher Angel, who plays the orphaned Billy Batson, steals the show with his genuine performance and character growth, even outshining his heroic counterpart Zackary Levi.
Levi is of course great in the movie and does an excellent job of capturing that sense of childhood awe and wonder.
Angel is the side of that performance that you latch onto emotionally. The growth and development he goes through is the true heart of the movie.
David F. Sandberg, the director of the movie, uses the $85-million budget he was given to its fullest.
Like many other movie directors have, Sandberg uses the grey backdrop of a city to his advantage to make the characters and action pop. In this movie, the fantastical shines brightly through the mundane.
Mark Strong as the villainous Doctor Thaddeus Sivana has more to offer than most comic book movie villains. His cold approach to Sivana contrasts nicely with the warm approach Levi took with his heroic role.
It's also worth noting that the trailers for the movie leave out a lot of the surprises that are in the film. It's great to see them for the first time on the big screen.
Overall, Shazam! tells a great story that at its heart is about the importance of family, which is why this movie stands out against the countless other comic book movies being released. It’s a great experience for the whole family.
