User reviews

DC has had a rocky road, but shazam, aka captain marvel was an enjoyable film, silly yet fun, found a good medium, and the villain was great. Can't wait for Black Adam. See it if you just want some fun and nothing serious.

Easy watching, some funny bits. Starts off well but then gets a bit muddled in its ideas and a bit 'seen it all before'. I think the 7/10 is accurate but it a good seven.

It was pretty much exactly what I expected which is a really enjoyable and lighthearted superhero film with some funny moments and that will be enough for most people but it just didn't blow me away. No way this is a 10 like some are suggesting and to nitpick, adult Billy acts nothing like young Billy at all. Don't get me wrong - its still a fun movie which I can recommend.

Technically a 6.5, but definitely not anything to be thrilled about, as there isn't much novelty. I'm not familiar with the comics so I had no special expectations. I can honestly say it was a fun movie, but I just don't see where the glowing praise is coming from.

Story-wise, it does its job without much surprise or imagination. The little drama with Billy searching for his long-lost mom, while being unable to accept companionship from others, is alright. The special FX are good, but there aren't any mindblowing scenes (no real fighting or magic other than smoke and lightning). I didn't mind the villain being one-note, but I wish they did something better than the old "7 deadly sins," or at the very least been more creative with the designs (which look like clay concept models of generic gargoyles and you couldn't even tell which sin was which).

Maybe I'm just cynical, but I didn't find it very funny. Sure I had a few smirks and chuckles now and then, but there wasn't anything roaringly hilarious. If the trailers didn't exactly make you LOL, then you'd probably won't within the full movie. The comparisons to a kid-friendly Deadpool are apt, but without the wackiness that "seals the deal" as most of the jokes are simple/cheesy/cheap (At the very beginning, Billy steals a cop's lunch bag while he pleads against it. Later on he uses his adult form to buy beer and visit a strip club like every teenage boy's wishes. That's pretty much the bar of humor throughout, besides the numerous "Look what I can do!" moments of discovery for the powers.)

There's a large disconnect between the ever-brooding Billy and the upbeat Shazam, almost like a reverse Jekyll/Hyde. I'd be pretty stoked too if I suddenly gained superpowers, but neither character is a natural extension. And except for Freddy, everyone is entirely one-dimensional and stereotypical: overly enthusiastic foster parents, the tech-wizard gamer Asian, the sweet 16-type daughter going off to college, bullies, etc. Billy has probably less than 10 minutes shown interacting with the fosters that him eventually accepting them as family is a giant, unsatisfying leap.

Overall, it's highly forgettable, but kids will enjoy it, assuming they won't be affected by the CG monsters.

My only previous reference to Shazam! is the 70s morning TV series that Michael Gray and Les Tremayne starred in with two different actor playing the adult Captain Marvel. It was shot on a shoestring budget with Gray and Tremayne wearing the same clothing every episode.

No budgetary expense here was spared in Shazam! the movie. We get some background on the teen Billy Batson who is in a group home in Philadelphia and wants to find his parents. He's not a bad kid, but a mischievous one who is the troublemaker for the adults at the home.

One fine day he's contacted from an alternate world and given the power of a superhero. Which he's fine with, but not sure how to use. Asher Angel is Billy and the adult superhero he can transform himself to is Zachary Levi. Watching Levi as the adult is like watching Adam Sandler. Maybe the producers tried for Sandler originally.

Things go great until he runs into a super villain Mark Strong. It seems back in the day when Strong was a kid he entered the same realm, but was rejected. Now he's back having aligned himself with demon forces.

Shazam! for all its technical wizardry is a show for kids of all ages. By the way no name for the superhero is decided so you will not hear Captain Marvel.

That comes in a sequel I'm sure.

So I finally decided to give this a go and I have to say, I'm a little annoyed I waited this long, because it's a very fun film.

So what put me off initially was that from the trailer it seemed a bit too silly and childish and I'm not too fond of that humour. But I have to say it was done very well and I didn't find it daft at all.

So as my title says, I did find the film I little predictable. You could see what direction the film was heading in early doors and it never really veered from that path. I felt like it was just missing that "wow" factor to break this movie into 8/10 and beyond. It was very down the middle lane kind of film, which don't get me wrong there's nothing wrong with that. But I just wanted a little more.

Sticking with the plot theme. It kept me entertained throughout and I remained interested for the entire 2 hours or so. So clearly it did something right! My only negative on this subject was that I thought they expanded in the wrong areas. So the first 45 mins or so was developing the characters so we didn't even see "Shazam" until 45 mins in. Then it sort of whizzed through the 'dealing with the idea he has powers' phase and went straight into the overly long end sequence. I feel like they could have done more with the mid section and even shortened the beginning and end to do so.

Beyond that though I thought the characters were great and they were all likeable and the arcs were also fun and interesting to get stuck in. And overall it was just enjoyable and a fun watch. It does what you expect it to do! The humour isn't over the top, stupid nor overdone and it's not complicated either. Yeah I'd recommend this if you're debating it. It's enjoyable!

General Thoughts:

The most fun I've had in a superhero movie since...well I was going to say Infinity War but that plotline is not very fun. Point is: this movie is fun. It really feels like it was made for kids, with a sprinkling of adult themes here and there. As someone who is suffering from extreme super hero fatigue, this is an excellent film to enjoy without having to put too much thought into it.

The Good:

The characters do not feel like they make stupid decisions. Every time I was questioning something that was being done, I could essentially chalk it up to the kids being...well kids. The film treats its children like children in the best way. There is no profound philosophical dialogue coming from the mouth of an eight year old. The film was just plain fun.

The Bad:

There are some minor continuity errors throughout the film that would not distract most people but if you are thinking about the film-making it may take you out of the film for the briefest of moments. Two examples I can think of are characters swapping their locations very quickly (likely in-between takes), and a character flying through the air faster than a plane with absolutely no wind affecting him or his clothing whatsoever. The movie does make up for this with a comical flight scene near the end of the film which I wont spoil.

If you measure this film against other DCEU movies it's pretty good, but stand it on it's own and it just isn't. The biggest problem with the movie is its tone - is this movie for kids or adults? The thin plot and hokey bits don't play for adults and the strip club and demons biting off peoples heads don't play for kids. My own kids wanted to like the film but nightmares about the demons and an unwanted conversation about why Shazam wanted to go see naked ladies turned them both off. As an adult, the super simple story and ridiculously over the top antagonist were big turnoffs. I think we all want to like this film, and that we all want DC to make good movies. Unfortunately this is another miss.

This movie brings some refreshment to a superhero genre, but still, it's nothing special, just your typical movie from this genre. Super corny characters and "deep" sub-plot. If you want to watch something fun and family-friendly it's a good choice.

I got to see an early screening of Shazam! at my local theater, and boy did it not disappoint. It's not flawless, but the good outweighs the bad more often than not. With a bright story, boundless energy, and an irresistible sense of fun, this is certainly one of the best-if not the best-installment of the DCEU so far.

Direction: I feel like David Samberg is the DCEU's Taika Waititi. He's this movie director that really isn't known for much past some horror, which made him an initially odd choice for this movie; a choice that paid off tremendously. He helps some light shine into this world, but doesn't underplay the action. His direction and coordination through framing helps us laugh and, in some cases, feel the punches. The action isn't jolty like the other DCEU installments and due to the bright vibrant colors, we really know what's happening, where it's happening, and who it's happening to. Well done.

The writing was uneven, but definitely fun. It's a basic story that converts Billy Batson's origin into a modern-day retelling with some elements of Big in there. The humor is well-timed and consistently funny; a lot of meta jokes and inner humor help the story obtain its brighter feel. The relationships written in are heartfelt and the story itself has a lot of heart. One part that causes a rift is the central character of Billy. His two versions, between the adult and the kid, seem to be two completely different people. It's an inconsistency that's fine being just about the only part (besides typical villain problems) that bugs you about the writing.

Performances: I swear, Zachary Levi was born to play Shazam! He carries childlike enthusiasm and a heart in effortlessly. He oozes charisma and really... I won't be able to say it enough so here it is: Zachary Levi is perfection. The rest... Kid Billy was somewhat toned down but still played quite nicely. Mark Strong played a menacing villain. The child actors, especially Jack Dylan Fraiser (Grazer? I'm sorry I don't remember off the top of my head), were VERY good. Child actors really are improving. Any other supporting performance was played nicely and everyone knew who the real star of the movie was: I'm sorry, I'm gonna keep coming back to this: Zachary Levi is a national treasure.

What else... music was nice and heartfelt, I talked about the action sequences... every other part of this film is mainly there to add to Billy's story and I like it. The world is undeniably fun and we're not really pulled out of it.

The future is bright for the DCEU with chapters like Shazam! (9/10)

Superhero this, superhero that. Someone gets super powers and ends up fighting an evil version of themselves with similar abilities. If you've seen one (recent) superhero movie then you've probably seen them all and it gets to the stage where you start to wonder if there's anything new a film company can bring to the genre. I'm pleased to say that, despite following most superhero cliches, 'Shazam!' has enough going for it to make it definitely worth a watch.

Ignoring the fact that it was originally meant to be part of the (possibly now deceased?) 'DC Shared Universe' (remember 'Batman vs Superman, Suicide Squad' and all that?) you don't really need to know much about any other film to 'get' what's going on here. A young boy attains magical powers from a wizard (as you do) and, every time he says the magic word ('Shazam!' just in case you hadn't guessed), he's changed from a weedy fifteen year old high school lad to a spandex-clad muscular hunk.

Now, if you've been following what was supposed to be DC's attempt at a 'shared universe' you'll know that they tried to make themselves different from Marvel by being 'darker' and 'grittier.' Well, 'Shazam!' isn't like that at all. It actually feels a bit like one of those 'family' movies from the eighties, as if it's part of a 'Goonies' shared universe than the 'Man of Steel.'

Having a child as the star can always be a bit hit and miss, however Asher Angel actually pulls it off and is quite believable in the role, even before he transfers leading man duties to Zachary Levi for the 'superhero moments.' We have veteran actor Mark Strong as the baddie who has the previously-mentioned 'similar powers' as Shazam. He's naturally a good actor, therefore he plays the part well. However, just like the light-hearted tone of the film emulates Marvel's output, so does the lack of real development and motivation for the villain.

There's plenty of laughs and a great use of Queen's 'Don't Stop Me Now' (possibly even better than 'Shaun of the Dead' used it), however, for those of us who noticed, the computer-effects are a bit ropy and probably could have been a little more polished. But that's just a minor gripe. Ultimately, I reckon youngsters should enjoy this film and not notice the - slightly in-your-face - message about 'family,' choosing instead to simply go along for the ride. For the adults, there's plenty of mocking of superhero movies and it's quite fun to picture this film in the same world where Batman and Superman have become marketable brands.

It may not be the greatest superhero movie of our time (and certainly not the most original), but it nicely crossed the divide between a film for adults and kids and if you're in the mood for something light and fluffy after the darker 'Infinity War/Endgame' pairing, then you can happily lose yourself in a world of magic and wizards for a couple of hours.

Unfortunately a little weak and all over the place. Good story, good start and than just fell flat. Watched in cinema, couldn't wait for it to finish.

I've seen some reviews before and this movie was supposed to be somehow good. It really was just meh. But i think for children (even though there were some questionable hard scenes) it could be something nice. Also the after credit scene was probably more hilarious than the actual movie.

The DC Universe has been a mess since day one.

What with one facial expression Cavill and him slapping the fans in the face bailing. Affleck's solo movie being on hold and then him slapping the fans in the face bailing. Them rushing into Justice League without establishing the characters. All the drama around Suicide Squad with Leto after the editor got a bit over zealous. And of course the inconsistent tone and just underwhelming quality.

Shazam looked promising, but was it really a good idea for them to go further away from the dark tone people are used to? And is "Shazam" really a character that can carry the franchise on his back now Batman and Superman have gone walkies?

Truth be told I liked the trailer, but only in the sense that I didn't view it as a DCU movie. It looked like a fun family film and I was fairly looking forward to it, I did however think it would be predictable Hollywood stuff and the trailer is basically the entire film compressed.

Well, I was right. It's exactly that, but it's also an enjoyable enough little take your brain out movie.

Levi is great as our lead, Strong hams it up suitably as our villain and the supporting cast (Mostly kids) do a passable enough job. The movie is big, flashy and exactly what you'd expect if you saw the trailer.

So it's fun, it is but it's not without its flaws. It's tacky, badly so in places whereas in others the CGI makes me think that somebody overpaid the SFX team by a tremendous amount. Then you have the plot and the general delivery which is basically exactly what you'd expect with absolutely no surprises. It's a Hollywood film, and as usual they play it very safe and by the numbers.

In my opinion this has done the DC Universe absolutely no favors, this isn't a character that will save the franchise and I still believe they need a miracle to turn things around.

Regardless it's fun dumb stuff and a perfectly passable little film.

The Good:

Great laughs

At least John Cena never got the lead role *Shudders*

A fair bit of fun

The Bad:

Some sfx are unforgivably ropey

Generic, tacky, Hollywood stuff

Asher Angel looks like Maisie Williams, seriously it oddly confused me throughout the film

Great for kids 8 to 15, vizuals are ok CGI could have been much better... Story felt rushed and we are not Given enough time to believe the closeness between the children. All in all.... decent

Seriously can't believe how much I loved this movie! This felt like a proper superhero movie felt when I was a kid, they captured the perfect tone, can't fault it.

Shazam was a lot of fun.

The technical aspects were all good. The effects are surprisingly good for a lower budgeted superhero movie. The score was pretty good, but I wish Shazam had a better theme, because honestly I don't remember what his theme was at all. The movie is shot pretty well, and there's some good uses of horror elements. From the visuals, everything is just solid, definitely no complaints there. It isn't amazing by any means, but there are some really nice shots in there, and the cinematography is above average in my opinion. Also there wasn't as much action as I thought there would be, but it personally didn't bother me. All the action was pretty good too, but I don't think there was anything that really got me at the edge of my seat, but it was definitely entertaining.

All of the cast is really good. Zachary Levi definitely does a great job as Shazam, he does a believable performance as a kid. Asher Angel's Billy Batson was also really good. I honestly wasn't expecting him to be that good, but he has some really good emotional scenes. All of the foster family is good too. They do have a lot of chemistry, but I felt like they were maybe a little underused. I also thought the foster parents were good too. Unfortunately the villain Dr. Sivana wasn't that good. He's okay. As a villain he actually works really well for the movie. There are some really good comedic moments between Shazam and Sivana because of their contrasting tones. Overall though, he does have a clear motive, and can be menacing, but I feel like he could've been better. I do hope to see him in the future though, Mark Strong is too good to be wasted.

The comedy was actually really well done. There were multiple funny moments, and almost none were used in serious scenes. The tone is balanced very well. There were definitely some laughs, and surprisingly barely any jokes failed. Usually in more comedic movies there's a lot of jokes that fall flat, but I'd say around 90% of the jokes or funny moments work. I do have to say while the trailers did a great job of not showing too much, but there are some jokes that were ruined from them.

This movie has surprisingly a lot of heart. It doesn't stray away from more mature and emotional moments for comedy. It's all done very well, and there were some surprisingly really heartfelt moments, which I'm glad they didn't gloss over, because it really does give this movie an extra layer over more superficial superhero films. It reminded me a lot about the Sam Raimi Spider-Man films. Shazam managed to be campy and funny, while not crossing the line to cheesiness. The tone is just really well balanced, and it manages to juggle the funny and emotional scenes very well. The characters go through realistic arcs. They have arguments, they fail, and they have their problems, but they all come together in the end in just a really nice and satisfying way. It's just nice to see a superhero movie with so much heart like the first Superman film.

Now I don't think this movie is amazing by any means. Like I mentioned earlier the villain just isn't good. Not only that, but with so many superhero movies, this movie is bound to come across some tropes. This does feel a lot like the traditional superhero origin movie, and also some characters do go through arcs we've might've seen before, but I think it's done well enough and in a more inventive way that manages to keep it fresh for the most part. I do believe that they could've maybe tried to avoid some tropes, but it's not like they ruin the movie, it just could've been a little better.

I really have to give props to the director David F. Sandberg (and the writers, Henry Gayden, and Darren Lemke) for bringing us so much heart in this movie, and balancing the tone so well. I can't forget to mention some really nice surprises, especially the third act, which was one of the best parts unlike most superhero films. One top of that there were some great Easter eggs, and comic book stuff I wasn't expecting them to do, it just really surprised me and made me glad they aren't shying away from the material, even if it may be a little goofy.

If I really had any other specific complaints I would have to mention, one of them would be how they're still using bullies in this era. I feel like bullies like that are uncommon nowadays. In addition to that they might've exaggerated some of the characters a little too much. I mean one of the kids can hack? And Billy is straight up breaking the law near the beginning. They might've gone too far there. Also I feel like most scenes focused on the Sivana storyline just weren't that good. There was this one really great scene with him though, which had horror elements to it, which I really liked. I wish the Sins weren't basically faceless monsters though. I feel like they could've delved deeper into the villain, and the sins. That area of the film is just really lacking. My final problem would be that there this one scene that didn't really make sense near the beginning. It really isn't a problem, but it just bugged me.

In Conclusion, Shazam is just a really fun time. It manages to balance comedy with emotional moments really well. The characters are all just so much fun to watch. All the cast has great chemistry and they give really great performances. There are some nice surprises. However the villain was a disappointment, and I feel like it could've tried to avoid some common tropes. Overall though it was really a really good time, it could've been better, but I can't wait to see more of these characters.

7.3/10

I went into this a little sceptical and found I came out rather chuffed with such a good film. Far far better than I was expecting and pleased I had gone to a preview screener for this.

The acting is spot on, the comedy is spot on and the action is.... You guessed it, spot on. I certainly recommend any super hero fan to go watch this and big praised to WB for leaving this alone and letting the DIrector get on with it.

I am quite disappointed that some of you guys felt that this movie is not even worth 1 star. How is it possible ? Seriously to me is very funny throughout the movie. This movie also suits family to watch together. Even though the story line is NOT as strong as other movie, but hey, the hilarious part makes this movie very interesting and NOT dull at all. Very RARE to see a super hero behaving in a comedy way...lol. Conclusion, worth to go watch at movie theater ! 10/10

Honestly, i didn't expect this movie to be good but when i finally watched it i changed my mind. Felt entertaining and interesting 👍👍

Shazam was more enjoyable than I thought it would be. If you either a comic book fan or not regardless you will enjoy it from start to end. Although Shazam doesn't contain as much fighting scenes you would see in movies these days it still leaves you with a fully polished story and character development. Shazam shows a teenage kid that gets powers and what he uses it for and obviously its typical things teenage kids would do. If you are plotting on whether or not to go, the obvious answer is YES!