‘Shazam!’ is the relatable, reluctant superhero tale we’ve been waiting for
“WHY IS my body changing?” That’s the unspoken cry of every teenager in every coming- ofage movie. It also happens to be the struggle of the reluctant superhero in “Shazam!,” the latest offering from the DC Comics Universe. Based on a character that fi rst appeared in 1940 — and was originally called Captain Marvel, but that’s another story — this has all the thrills of a 21st century blockbuster, but with the heart and patient pacing of an ‘ 80s adventure.
That’s largely thanks to director David F. Sandberg, whose 2017 movie “Annabelle: Creation” put the fi nely developed characters of “The Conjuring” universe into the service of a series of jump scares. “Shazam!” reverses that process, and shifts from the rapid-fi re editing of a typical comic book movie to spend more time developing characters.
Characters like Billy Batson (Asher Angel), a 14-year- old who’s run away from every foster home he’s been placed in so he can search for his real mother. (Although, as his social worker points out, his mom hasn’t seen
Based on a character that first appeared in 1940, this has all the thrills of a 21st century blockbuster, but with the heart and patient pacing of an ‘80s adventure.
fit to look for him.) Authorities give him one more chance, placing him with foster parents who have hosted a whole crew of diverse children, including his roommate, a boy named Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer), who walks with a brace and seems like Robert Downey Jr. shrunken into Fred Savage of “The Wonder Years.”
Billy resists the affections of his motley new family at fi rst. But after he stands up to bullies who target Freddy at school, Billy magically appears before a wizard ( Djimon Hounsou) who’s looking for a champion to take on his power to fi ght evil. Billy knows he wouldn’t pass any purity test — but is he the hero the world needs?
With the magic word and new name — “Shazam!” — the wizard passes his power onto Billy, who’s transformed into a buff adult ( Zachary Levi). The thing is, Shazam is a goofy buff adult who feels terribly self- conscious in a boldly coloured, tightfitting costume he fi nds ridiculous.
Levi plays Shazam as far more immature than Billy, as if a grown man’s body has revealed the scared kid hiding behind the street-wise swagger. Shazam’s attempts at fl ight are as uncertain as a baby duckling’s, which leads to some effective slapstick comedy. That physical humour makes his eventual triumph that much more exciting, and Levi’s childlike glee conveys that with a modesty that makes him more relatable than your average flying crusader.
Set primarily in Philadelphia, “Shazam!” echoes, and directly references, another underdog who inspired the city: Rocky Balboa. The screenplay by Henry Gayden essentially condenses a few “Rocky” sequels into one package: As the determined boxer evolved from workingclass chump to overconfident star over the course of three movies, Shazam develops from vulnerable teen to cocky social media star to selfless family man in a little more than two hours. In the process, he confronts a supervillain ( Mark Strong) who has gained control of demons who represent the Seven Deadly Sins.
“Shazam!” operates as a thrilling fantasy and a comedy about the learning curve of growing up. It’s also a stirring tale of the heroic potential that lies inside each of us, if only we’re put to the test.
Three stars. Rated PG-13. At area theatres. Contains intense sequences of action, strong language and suggestive material. 132 minutes. — WP-Bloomberg