SHAZAM! (2019) – Film Review
As a reminder, I rate movies based on three criteria: objectionable content (C), artistic merit (A), and my personal opinions (P). (C-A-P. Get it?)
CONTENT
(C): 7 out of 10
As one
might expect, Shazam! is one of the
goofiest superhero movies to hit modern-day cineplexes. As one might not expect, Shazam! mixes a heavy dose of content that many might consider
troubling—especially for younger theatergoers. This is, in fact, not a movie for children.
In the
world of Shazam!, the seven deadly
sins provide a formidable presence, personified by seven expertly-and-grotesquely
rendered demonic beings. The threat they pose provides for some tense moments—including
one scene in particular that flirts with the horror genre.
Even
though Lust is one of the seven deadly sins, the topic of lust is never handled
in a way that is tantalizing. There are a couple brief visits to a strip club,
but we only see the outside of the building. It is also worth noting that the
movie takes a facetious jab at Lust, noting how particularly deceiving it can
be.
When it
comes to language, there is a smattering of crass terms that, while never
reaching the levels of a Spielberg child-ensemble movie, still took me out of
the experience a few times.
ARTISTRY
(A): 8 out of 10
Kudos to
the filmmakers for injecting enough fresh material to make Shazam! feel like a truly unique superhero movie, not only when
compared to previous DCU films, but also to those from the MCU. I’m not
familiar with the character of Shazam from the comics, but his cinematic iteration fits well in the comedy genre, and comedy is one of this movie’s greatest assets.
There are
certain aspects of Shazam!’s mythos
that don’t hold up well to scrutiny, leading to some logical inconsistencies
that become more apparent in retrospect. Thankfully, they aren’t too much of an
assault on suspension of disbelief during the actual proceedings.
It is
unfortunate that the third act abandons some of its original feel in favor of a
more generic battle sequence. It’s not enough to ruin the film, but it keeps
the story from ending with a bang (or Shazam!,
as it were).
PREFERENCE
(P): 9/10
The trailers
for Shazam! filled me with great
expectations. I dared hope that the humor contained in them was emblematic of
the film as a whole. Matching my hope almost point for point, the filmmakers
dared to do new things and venture new places, giving the story an admirable
sense of freshness (and not just a Tomatometer rating).
To my
delight, I discovered that this movie is not a retread of your typical Marvel
humor fest. It is something different entirely, in fact. Yes, Marvel movies are
often heavily laced with humor, but most of it is contained in the dialogue
(banter, quips, jokes, etc.). The humor in Shazam!
is much more situational and slapstick—i.e., right up my alley. As much as I
loved the humor in Thor: Ragnarok
(and I did!), I loved the humor in Shazam!
even more.
There’s so
much more than its humor that keeps this movie feeling fresh. Take the beginning
sequence(s), for example. I won’t provide any spoilers, but the story plays
with the hero origin/prologue trope in a couple ways—both of which hint at the
pathos to come.
And talk
about pathos! To my knowledge, no superhero movie has ever made me cry. But
then along comes this movie with an exclamation point at the end of its title
(and a movie poster featuring a superhero with bubblegum) and it threatens to turn me into a bawling baby on more than one
occasion. (I held it together—but man,
was it tough.) The story is full of belly laughs and heart-string pluckings.
The
character arc Billy Batson (i.e., Shazam) goes through, brought about by
circumstances thrust upon him without his control or approval, provides a
poignant and dramatic weight that boosts the emotional attachment we have to
him. And it’s the change he experiences during a couple climactic confrontations
(neither of which is with the villain, by the way) that sells his growth as a
person. It also strengthens the force of the narrative, which is another reason
why the third act was a bit—but only
a bit—of a letdown (not because it’s horrible, but because it’s…typical).
I feel
like this review has too many exclamation points; it’s partly
Shazam!’s fault, I suppose. But maybe
that’s appropriate. The movie is humorously and emotionally intense. Overall, it is a
surprising experience, and mostly in positive ways.
CAP score:
80%