Shazam!
There is heap to like about this film , but it ’s in no path pure . There are , of course , a few things that , if we had our preference , might be different . However , these are very minuscule issues in the fully grown picture , and the pic is overall a great lookout , with some fantastic performances and really entertaining sequences . There is in spades more thatShazam!does correct than it does legal injury , and in this manner , it makes for a big step in the right direction for future DCEU films . There is a slew to like about this film , from its horse sense of humour to its sincerity in telling a story rooted in familial themes to its exciting third act conflict . Here are the18 Best Things About Shazam ( And 3 affair We Did n’t Like At All ) .
LIKED: The Christmastime setting
One matter that givesShazam!a touch of lineament is the fact that it is set during the holidays . This is something that Shane Black excellently does with most of his flick , and it ’s just a really great way to ground the level in a specific metre frame . The snow on the soil and the Christmas ornamentation everywhere also just add a bit of texture to the background .
Of course , the fact that the story is go under at Christmas also helps to act as into the other big paper of the film , family ( more on that in a moment ) . It also allows the film to do some moderately funny stuff with a Santa Claus who keeps getting freaked out by all the super engagement happen around him .
LIKED: The sense of humor
When the DCEU was in its earliest stage , it was intelligibly think of to rebuff the bright , spirited , fun of the MCU . Zack Snyder ’s original vision seemed to be take the DCEU into a much gloomy and more serious territorial dominion ( although the early moving picture felt more ego - serious than anything ) .
That dour , bleak mindset has since started to wear off , and celluloid likeWonder WomanandAquamanseem to be incite the DCEU in a new direction , one that is close to the common law set by Marvel . Shazam!continues this style by being a raft more blithe and sport , fill the gaps between the action with passel of humor .
LIKED: The family themes
The major motif running throughoutShazam!is find out a office where you belong . Specifically , it invest its focal point on family more than anything . Billy Batson is an orphan who has spend his spirit hear to incur his birth female parent if only to give himself a material home and find the place he belongs .
When he is assigned to a foster family that has already taken in other children , Billy feels like he does n’t belong , that this is not a genuine family . However , over the course of the film ( and after being turned forth by his real mother ) , Billy realizes that family can be found in the most unlikely of place .
LIKED: Jack Dylan Grazer’s performance
Most of the charm inShazam!comes from none other than Freddy Freeman , play by Jack Dylan Grazr . Grazer had already shown some unanimous acting chops playing Eddie Kaspbrak inIT , and he really get to stretch those muscles inShazam!playing the overenthusiastic superhero fan .
In gain to providing some great comedic chemistry with Zachary Levi , Grazer also gets to bet some real emotional moments , such as let in that he wish he had been given superpower because he would n’t just waste them like Billy has been doing .
LIKED: The rest of the young actors
Along with Grazer , the moving picture also feature some great performance from the young actors playing Billy ’s foster sibling . Grace Fulton portrays Mary as the sibling with the most province and gets a really nice moment to ruminate on how she feels guilty pull up stakes her family to go to college .
Likewise , Ian Chen and Jovan Armand fiddle Eugene and Pedro with a hatful of personality . Eugene is an energetic gamer , while Pedro is more of the warm , silent type . Last but not least , Faithe Herman take a crap Darla the precocious and fresh small sister that anyone would need to have in their liveliness .
LIKED: The Seven sins
In fact , these giant provide a majuscule dividing line to the colourful and energetic superhero . They are delightfully fearful , and really lend a lowering air to the baddie , who utilizes the monsters to take on the hero and essay to steal his power away .
LIKED: Djimon Hounsou’s convincingly old wizard
Billy Batson receive his magical great power from a virtuoso named Shazam , who had been the protector of Earth for C . However , after failing to find a worthy replacement for so long , the wizard had grown older and weakened . In determine Billy , the hotshot was at long last let to wither away , and leave the existence in the young man ’s hands .
Djimon Hounsou did a great job playing this old and wizened wizard , despite the fact that he is only 55 geezerhood old , and actually await much younger than that . Still , he imbued the grapheme with great strength and nobility , and although he only appears in the first bit , the wizard leaves a lasting notion .
LIKED: Black Adam reference
With all the whisperings of Dwayne Johnson appear as Black Adam in his own film , there was an apprehensible sense of disappointment when it was annunciate that Black Adam would not be featured at all inShazam ! . However , fan still draw a piddling piece of a Black Adam tease to tide them over .
As the wizard is explain to Billy how the first champion that he chose used his top executive for evil , it becomes very clear that the someone he is talking about is none other than Black Adam himself . Does this mean that Black Adam might be have in aShazam!sequel ? We ’ll likely have to hold off a duet of class to see out .
LIKED: The fun of discovering superpowers
While they have their obvious differences , one affair that superhero films , or in this typeface , superhero origin film , have in common is the moment when the hero begins to discover their powers and discover how to rein them . Most films will fulfil this in a speedy collage , butShazam!has a little more fun with the received sequence .
We get to see Billy , as the adult superhero , discovering that he is super tight , has lightning powers , and ace strength passably much by accident . The second he discovers that he is watertight by ask two would - be robbers to shoot him in the face is an absolute classic . As the succession goes on , he chance on all of his other power ( include being fireproof , which was done without his cognition ) .
LIKED: Hitting on power and responsibility without being too obvious
When we think about superhero films talk about tycoon and duty , we mostly go toSpider - Man . It is , after all , the central dogma behind the web - slinger ’s intact storey . It ’s something that gets touched on in a lot of other superhero films , butShazam!does a keen job in cover that ground without being too obvious .
Before he really becomes a superhero in earnest , Billy first spends a lot of time just playing around with his business leader . It ’s what run to his first heroic moment rescuing a heap full of masses ( which he invalid with his lightning ) , and it is most evident in the conversation he has with Freddy right after , who points out the unfairness of such amazing mightiness being given to someone who would just waste it .
