THE MOVIE MICRO-BINGE

JOKERS TO THE RESCUE

Some superheroes do not always take the job of saving the world all that seriously. And neither should you. Here’s where you can swiftly stream a sudden surge of super laughs ...

SHAZAM! (2019)

FOXTEL, NETFLIX ****

A clever and unpretentious tale revolves around a 14-year-old kid named Billy (Asher Angel) who acquires a weird transformative superpower. Whenever Billy exclaims ‘Shazam!’, he becomes a 35year-old superhero (Zachary Levi) who can fly at will, zap things, repel artillery, and much, much more. Non-stop fun which both sends up and stares down every stodgy superhero flick you’ve ever had to endure.

THOR: RAGNAROK (2017)

Disney+, or rent via various services ***1/2

The third solo outing for Chris Hemsworth’s Thor sees the big burly bearded bloke in his best form. While the movie supplies the kind of sprawling action spectacle Marvel is renowned for, it is also a sly, dry comedy packed with deadpan punchlines and absurd sight gags. The good-natured goofiness to the fore is definitely the handiwork of genius NZ filmmaker Taika Waititi (Hunt for the Wilderpeople).

TEEN TITANS GO! TO THE MOVIES (2018)

rent via FOXTEL STORE, GOOGLE, ITUNES ***

A quality feature debut for the Teen Titans Go! gang. This gaggle of B-listers from the DC Comics stable have been fronting a very cool TV series for a few years now. The extended format makes even better use of their plentiful supply of in-jokey banter, out-there sight gags and a welcome disrespect for superhero selfimportance that puts them on par with Deadpool.