REVIEW: SHAZAM!

4/5

What's The Magic Word?

132 Mins. Starring: Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer & Djimon Hounsou. Director: David F. Sandberg.

Ah-ah-ah. Ah-ah-ah. You didn't say the magic word. What's my name? My name is what Slim Shady? Captain Sparklefingers? Nope! Captain Marvel? Yeah! Exclamation point! No joke. That used to be Shazam's original name. Before Brie Larson. Before Carol Danvers. Before the 1940's Cap. Hand on heart, I swear. On Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury. On all the elders. But this alakazam? Best movie about a superhero who helps name that tune you're listening to right now ever. 'Shazam'. Wait...what?! It's not about that. He may be on his phone more than you and he may near be able to do everything despite that...unlike us. But out the phonebooth he's no app. He's just a kid with the "wish I was a little bit taller. I wish I was a baller" big dreams. Skee-Lo to Zoltar. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it's someone that flies like Superman. And is as Man of Steel as strong as him too. Just try hitting him with a two by four. That will make for a sick YouTube video whilst you're flossing. And for this selfie generation that has turned the phone back on itself, this is big kid nostalgia for an age were with posters on our bedroom wall we all wished upon a shooting star that we could fly like that and be superheroes in a Shazam, as we say my name, say my name like destiny's children. Hurling a thunderbolt at our huffed and puffed out, neon glowing chests with former boxed in, what's up 'Chuck' actor Zachary Levi (who moonlighted in a whole other Marvel realm with incredible 'Hulk' like replacement for one of Thor's Warriors Three merry men), super jacked up and fitting into this capes crusades like a pair of tried and trusted, American worn Levi's. Back in his marvellous comic-book heydey Shazam was at one time more popular than the red and blue, stars and stripes of DC's version of Captain America, Superman, jacked like both combined. And with a rumoured Henry Cavill cameo here left on the mustachioso cutting room floor, it looks like the dark designs of the 'Man Of Steel' have just been struck by a force of bright lightning. 'Shazam' will leave you saying it's name like Ben Mendelsohn to Ryan Gosling in 'The Place Beyond The Pines'. Shazaaaaam!

Jokes on who? In the same meta movie that takes the piss out of Christian Bale's bathroom Batman suit advice to Ben Affleck, this breaks more walls and balls than Ryan Reynolds' 'Deadpool'. All in a kid friendly dab hand dude. Bubblegum pop culture in this 'Unicorn Store' bright pastel age of Brie Larson teamming up with Samuel L. Jackson again for 'Captain Marvel' that is waiting on the Avengers final 'Endgame' like it's the only movie that matters right now. But Marvel haven't snapped their fingers on all the blockbusters in cinemas right now like Netflix. And in the same weekend that 'It' horror man Stephen King's 'Pet Sematary' is brought back to exhumed theatrical life, if the Summer season of movies didn't start early this Spring with the marvellous Carol Danvers', then it has now. As DC with this fun and fancy entry show they can out punchline duke the Disney titan that is all of Stan Lee's men. But Marvel fans you are allowed to like both. You're not going to be Captain America's B.F.F. just because you hate on DC. And this 'Justice League' flop was no sweat or death of a dynasty that began with the darkest night of the dawn. This writer has already practically gone on for articles about how underrated and great 'Batman v Superman' is until they both became mummy's boys (with good intentions). And 'Wonder Woman' got there first before Marvel's new Captain and even the Wakanda forever land of 'Black Panther'. Add last fall under the sea and in a Thor 'Point Break', below the surf realm of Atlantis, 'Aquaman' trident turning around the tide wet notion of this hero and blowing everything else out the water to this deep and dark end. And now we have this too and the outstanding, operatic 'Gotham' gothic (a week after that terrific T.V. series on the tube that DC rival Marvel small screen with, neck and neck, debuted their own new Jack and Ledger honouring Clown Prince) trailer for Martin Scorsese and Todd Phillips ace in the hole 'Joker' movie. And with De Niro, clown make-up shades of 'Taxi Driver' and his 'You Were Never Really Here' movie, the thumbs up of here's Johnny Cash actor Joaquin Phoenix looks hauntingly scary enough to give late legend Heath Ledger's iconic and classic redefined Joker a run for his playing cards. The look on great actor Shea Whigham's face when he gun in the sky barrels down the train through all those people after Joaquin Phoenix in the trailer is all I need to see how terrifyingly great it will be. Bet he and fellow character actor great Bill Camp are playing Gordon and Harvey too. All this and just like that Shazam, make a wish, DC go from laughing gas stock to piling up massive movies and moments that not only rival Marvel, but show they are even Rotten Tomatoes fresher than that M.C.U. concept now that is one more snap judgment away from being turned to dust for critics brooms. As this glowing kid with the exuberance of youth comes sweeping in. Showing the Detective Comics can now play in the same sandbox of fun as the Coca Cola to their Pepsi with max effect. Don't feel so good?

Redemption? Nah the renaissance has already been here. It's like DC already yelled SHAZAM and became bigger and better. Even if he might not be able to quite leap tall buildings in a single bound...and other Suped up references. He's still the new yellow lighting bolt on red cyclone Flash. Try to keep up! Billy Batson going to bat over lunch and making sure his best friend isn't eating dessert alone like Steven Glansberg could probably take Clark Kent in an arm wrestle too though over cartons of jock crushed milk. With the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Atlas, the power of Zeus (and your phone charger), the courage (but not heel) of Achilles and the speed of Mercury (not to mention the Freddie, 'Bohemian Rhapsody' soundtrack of Queen) this kid has all the powers...except he can't talk to fish. And the heart of soulful young actor Asher Angel (known for breaking out in Jessica Chastain's 'Jolene' debut) is a wonder beyond his years here and more than worthy of touching a Yoda wise wizard Djimon Hounsou's staff (on double superhero duty this month after making his Marvel 'Guardians Of The Galaxy' reunion with 'Captain Marvel'). All to become the exclamation thunder point of Shazam...or in reality Zachary Levi. Fandral who seems to tangle up all the powers of all the supers across all the comics for your ultimate dream superhero. Faster than a speeding charm offensive, making his own 'Rocky' knockout mark up those Stallone steps on the Springsteen streets of Philadelphia. And broad bicep armed with the Hanks for the memories playing toy shop references in a hunt of all sorts of hidden blockbuster eggs this Easter (and isn't that the guy that played Lex Luthor's dad in 'Smallville'? Small world), Zach shows that superhero movies for 'Big' kids can still have fun too. Suitable to all from almost 15 to mid thirties and to 'Infinity War' and beyond. All for that buzz like the soda that tastes better than that puke ready beer, 'Superbad' fake I.D. brought from the convenience store they just super saved like Peter Parker in this Peter Pan of the dark DCEU. And even now with Batfleck and other Cavill-lier heroes sadly gone, these DC narratives may be all over the place like this writers hairline. But somehow even being locked up in the M.C.U. like Heath Ledger's Joker they make it all work (unlike this haircut) like it was meant to be. Even if the outlook doesn't look good in defeating the pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and sloth, seven deadly sins of 'Kingman' knight, Sherlock foil and a 'Kick Ass' Mark Strong's 8 Ball wielding villain that you won't see coming like when it all came up Millhouse for Bart in 'The Simpsons'. Shaking up the future that will hopefully have all signs pointing to The Rock and a Black Adam place. But it's the best friend and family of 'IT' child star Jack Dylan Grazer who is the crutch (no pun intended) of this heroes journey. Coming out on his own like that shy kid from 'Stranger Things' (Finn Wolfhard) did when he co-starred with him in the Stephen King novel idea that's second chapter of the clown gets sent in this Summer. Displaying chemistry with both parts of Batson, Angel and Levi (!) as they cut class and coming home to a whole host of cast additions in the full house of this foster family, sneaking and creaking up the stairs like a Baymax 'Big Hero 6'. One that coming together, all hands on deck shows that this truly is a family movie, no matter where you or yours comes from. And call it corny, but there's something truly super about that like the foster power bumper sticker on the back of this van pooling this blended family. 'Lights Out' and 'Annabelle' horror director David F. Sandberg gives us anything but a haunted house as the demons are put back under the bed and our greatest fears are confronted like standing up to those who throw you in lockers. Superhero films have been serving so called "freaks and geeks" with that saving solitude of solidarity against even the biggest bully. But in a 'Shazam' this one makes the point that that same kid can be their own actual hero too. For real this time (just don't try this at home by trying to jump out your bedroom window). Just say the word. Now call them names! TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Big', 'Aquaman', 'Deadpool'.