Shazam! Movie Review (Just say the magic word)

Hello guys and welcome back to another round with Movie Nerd, a place where you can be nerdy about movies and that's OK!

The latest entry into the DC movie universe might be, correction, is the most fun, humorous and with the most heart and soul. And, it also might be my favorite one.

If you are not familiar with the character or it's backstory, I'm going to give you a bit of a synopsis to help you out because, like the main character, we all have a hero inside of us: we all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson's case, by shouting out one word - SHAZAM! - this streetwise 14-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult superhero Shazam.

Sounds fun does it not? It's good that DC and Warner Brothers have found a way to make their comic book movies fun, cheerful and not so depressing and dark. Well,at least, until the Joker movie is launched. But don't be mistaken because this movie has it's fair share of scary and terrifying scenes because the director, F. Sandberg, comes from a horror background, with movies like Lights Out and Annabelle: Creation as proof that this guy knows how to put the chills into you.

Regarding Shazam! the movie, it's very good. Not great but it definitely qualifies as a feel good movie and a family movie at the same time. Think of this movie like a mix between a Superman story and the plot from the movie Big, with Tom Hanks. It definitely was an inspiration, a kid in a adult body and it does have some nods to that movie.

Why do I say it's a family movie, with all this superhero stuff and a director who is known for his horror expertise? Because of the message that this movie brings, the message being that family is the greatest power that a hero can possess. Sure, his got lighting shooting from his hands, he has super speed, super strength, he can fly and his bulletproof but, in the end, family and unity can defeat even the greatest of foes.

To be honest, the movie felt a bit weird, a bit out of a character for DC and Warner's because I expect a movie like that from the Marvel studios and not DC. It seems that this year, DC has done a Marvel movie and Marvel has done a DC movie, with Avengers: Endgame being depressing and very serious.

In terms of special effects, there are some that don't work but most of it was OK, the effects were fine. Some of the demons looked a bit unfinished and, unfortunately, the 3D did not help at all. They could have made the movie in 2D in would not make a difference. Action wise was good although a bit low on action, the exception being the finale of the movie, a fight resembling the one with Zod, from the third act of Man of Steel. The movie is very funny, it's got some good humor, performance were good, although the ones from Asher Angel and Zachary Levi, who is great and has some good comedic chops, are a bit uneven.

In the villain department, the movie does not shine because the character that Mark Strong plays is the kind of cliched villain, with daddy issues, corrupted by evil, the whole story that has been told again and again and again. Unoriginal as fuck!

Overall, it was a fun time at the movies, I laughed, had a good time with it, it is suitable for all members of the family, young and old, but not to young and to old because you don't want any nightmares for the kids and heart attacks for the elders. And, like I said before, the message of the movie shines above anything else, special effects and fighting scenes. An emotional but not too sappy message. Good job guys and keep 'em coming! 8.5/10

OK guys, that is my review for this one. Coming soon, Hellboy which, I hear is horrible so yeay, can't wait to see it. Until then, take care, stay movie nerdy and keep on reviewing!