Elise Mitchell, Sophomore
Shazam! It’s an onomatopoeia! It’s something that wizards say! It’s a 14 year old who can transform into a superhero! DC’s latest edition to the DC Extended Universe zoomed into theaters on Friday, April 5, and has created quite the buzz.
Shazam!, starring Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, and Jack Dylan Grazer, starts out with a young orphaned boy by the name of Billy Batson (played by Angel) who will do anything and everything it takes to find his long lost mother. Billy does not play by the rules and definitely does not believe in the idea of family, a belief that keeps him from enjoying himself in his new foster home. A chaotic house of 6 kids —including his superhero-obsessed roommate, Freddy— drives Billy to run away from his home and right into a wizard’s secret lair. The means by which he got there are pretty hazy but there is one that is clear, a wizard named Shazam needs Billy’s help. Shazam very quickly tells Billy that his power is weakening and it must be passed on to a new champion, the role of the champion being filled by Billy. With the power and the superhero name of “Shazam”, Billy discovers his abilities and strange appearance are like that of a comic book hero, and Billy spends his time goofing off and gathering fame with his brother Freddy. All the while, a great evil grows in the shadows. The seven deadly sins found a champion of their own many own, a man far more sinister and with a much greater understanding of his powers — Doctor Thaddeus Sivana. The movie comes to a crashing conclusion as Shazam battles it out with Doctor Sivana for the safety of the world and Billy learns about the true power of family, finding himself in his forever home.
That speedy summary is no where close to actual experience that you get watching it in theater, with the awesome performances by the actors and the adrenaline filled fight sequences that bring back a childlike sense of amazement. All of the enthusiasm from the actors and a little bit of movie magic are what really brought these characters to life. Thanks to that, Shazam! has received a 90% of Rotten Tomatoes, making it a big hit for the DCEU. In a bit of a surprise to critics everywhere, Shazam! has managed to secure it’s spot as #1 in the box office for its second week in a row, easily topping both Little and Hellboy.
In the end, if you’re looking for a movie to renew your love of the unlikely hero, a comedy about teen life, and a splash of touching family moments then Shazam! is the movie for you. The lovable characters, thrilling action scenes and overall delightful message is what makes this movie memorable. Now say it with me, Shazam!
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