Shazam! Superheroes Fly Past Puberty

I did not think I was going to watch Shazam! DC movies are not my jam, but after a number of critics posted reviews talking about how fun and goofy this film is, I was sufficiently intrigued. So I headed to the theater this weekend and yup. This movie is certainly a delight.

Imbued with a somewhat old-school 80's aesthetic, I wouldn't say this film is going to win a lot of awards for production or costume design (unless there's an award for "Best Nostalgia" in which case, go for it). But in terms of superhero origin stories, this is a fresh take on all the movies we've seen to date. Essentially, a young teenage foster kid, Billy Batson (Asher Angel) gets summoned into the eerie lair of a powerful wizard who needs someone who is "pure of heart" to transfer all his powers to. He's been searching for a successor for years but is now out of options, so Billy will have to do. He asks Billy to place his hands on his staff (*inappropriate giggle*) and say the word Shazam! Upon which, Billy turns into the adult version of himself, costumed in a ridiculously loud superhero outfit with a gigantic lightning bolt logo and white cape. He is goofily played by muscle-bound Zachary Levi, who proceeds to have a LOT of fun figuring out what his powers are and how to use these developments to his advantage. As he is still a teenage boy at heart, this means buying beer and gaining entrance into strip clubs.

This of course immediately brings to mind the wonderful Big, starring Tom Hanks, except with super powers thrown into the mix. If you're a fan of that movie, you will enjoy a little homage to it during a fight sequence in a toy store. But if you have no idea what I'm talking about, never mind, this is a fun superhero flick you can enjoy regardless of your 80's movie knowledge. Written by Henry Gayden, this movie is gloriously silly but also contains a LOT of plot. In fact, I was getting a bit impatient at the beginning as it took a long while for Billy to even turn into a superhero; he has a lot of other troubles on his plate. But once things get going, they chug along quick and there are plenty of epic battles, fun banter, and interesting plot twists to keep things fresh.

Shazam! seems like one of those films that's going to get popular by word of mouth, and I definitely encourage you to see it. I didn't think DC was ever going to learn to make a lighthearted superhero movie where entire cities didn't crumble into the ground, but they finally succeeded. If this movie does well enough, hopefully they will learn that this is the kind of superhero film that wins at the box office and we won't have to suffer through more Batman vs. Superman-esque dour shenanigans. This film leaves plenty of room for sequels and spin-offs into the DC Extended Universe, but even if nothing more comes of it, it is a fun romp to liven up your weekend.