Shazam! (2019)

Director: David F. Sandberg
Stars: Zachary Levi, Jack Dylan Grazer, Asher Angel
Runtime: 132 minutes

Synopsis: We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson's case, by shouting out one word - SHAZAM! - this streetwise fourteen-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult superhero Shazam.

Performances: 8/10
Screenplay: 5/10
Special Effects: 6/10
Costumes/Makeup: 7/10
Editing: 6/10
Cinematography: 6/10
Score/Soundtrack: 7/10
Entertainment Factor: 6/10

Verdict: The newest entry in the DCEU (or whatever it is at this point) certainly cements the fact that the universe is leaving behind its dark and gritty tone in favor of a more light-hearted one.

Centered around 14-year-old Billy Batson's turn into the superhero Shazam, the best way to describe the movie would be by comparing it to Tom Hanks' "Big" (which is referenced in the film) in which he plays a child trapped in an adult's body.

There's certainly quite a bit to enjoy about "Shazam!". For starters, the chemistry between the main actors is undeniably the glue that held the movie together. All three protagonists played their parts beautifully, and Zachary Levi was truly an inspired choice to play the titular character. I also found entertaining Batson's handling of his newfound powers, which very much fit both the film's tone and concept.

Sandberg's first non-horror movie's issues lie mainly in its script. The jokes were all very hit and miss and never felt fresh, the structure and themes were all presented in a very cheesy way in which every little detail had to be brought back at some point, and the main villain played by Mark Strong was wasted despite benefiting from a concept I found at first to be rather interesting. The special effects used to create some monsters was unconvincing to say the least as well, and took me out of the movie every time they appeared on screen.

"Shazam!", despite my issues with it, remains a crowd-pleaser. It's nothing extraordinary or original in any way, but will certainly keep any fan of the superhero genre entertained for a couple of hours. 

FINAL GRADE: 6/10