--Thaddeus Sivana, Shazam!
Shazam! strings together humorous and dark elements alike in a manner that elevates it far above most other DCEU films. From the performances to the action to the connections to the established DC world, the movie succeeds in every key way it needed to. The humor teased in the trailer does not overpower the story, and vice versa. There is even a legitimate reason why Shazam sometimes behaves in humorous or petty ways, and the comedic elements of the script often work better precisely for the same reason: the hero is literally a 14 year old who can inhabit the body of a magic-wielding metahuman whenever he says the word.
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Production Values
Thankfully, the effects in Shazam! match the current standards of the industry--there is no animation as poor as Steppenwolf's to be found in the film. The variety of magical powers used by Shazam, Sivana, and the wizard are integrated into the narrative well, but they are also portrayed with visual excellence. However, the movie doesn't simply rely on its effects as Aquaman does; the task of carrying the film falls on the characters themselves. The emphasis is consistently placed on dialogue and character development more than it is on action.
Zachary Levi is a great fit for the character of Shazam, with the younger Asher Angel complementing his performance well. The fact that the two actors, one a teenager and the other an adult, coordinate their acting so effectively is a testament to the skill of both cast members. Fortunately, the villain is also realized quite well. Mark Strong plays a villain far more personally sinister than Steppenwolf, Orm, or Zod, and he actually receives a greater amount of attention than is usual for villains in superhero films. Strong's Sivana easily towers over the pathetic portrayal of Steppenwolf in Justice League (yes, Steppenwolf is an easy target). While his motivations are still simplistic by comparison to those of an antagonist like Thanos, he appears in enough scenes to make him more than the mere plot device many onscreen supervillains are ultimately reduced to.
Story
Spoilers!
After failing (as a child) the test of a wizard who considered him a possible inheritor of magical abilities, all due to a personal gravitation towards demonic power, Thaddeus Sivana searches for the wizard's dimension under the guise of studying mass hysteria when he reaches adulthood. He eventually discovers how to access the realm, illicitly taking powers bestowed by demons called the Seven Deadly Sins. The wizard, seeking a champion with a pure heart to defeat the Sins, chooses foster child Billy Batson as his successor, enabling Billy to transform into an adult with multiple powers (the manipulation of electicity, immense strength, and hyperspeed, to name some of them) whenever he says the word Shazam. Sivana soon learns of Billy's status as champion, and he aims to pressure Shazam into surrendering his powers or kill him and take them by force.
Intellectual Content
Shazam! scarcely even begins to tackle any significant philosophical issues in the way that Wonder Woman and Doctor Strange do. However, it does emphasize that altruism is something that should be expected of children, not merely from adults. Moral obligations do not discriminate according to age, after all.
Conclusion
Shazam! is exactly what the DCEU needed this year. In light of the DCEU's affiliation with the general mediocrity of Justice League and the cinematic atrocity called Suicide Squad, the shift towards mostly self-contained stories like that of Wonder Woman has proven effective. There are still definite connections between Shazam! and previous DCEU films: references to Superman's heroics, the appearance of an actual Batarang, the acknowledgment of Zeus (who is involved in the backstory of Wonder Woman), and the surprise presence of a member of the Justice League all make it clear that Shazam! is not completely separate. If DC continues to produce movies of this caliber that accomplish more than establishing setups for future movies, the DCEU as a whole has a chance at finally reaching its actual potential.
Content:
1. Violence: Shazam and Sivana fight with their powers and fists, but never in a graphic manner. A scene where the Seven Deadly Sins appear before a company's board of directors shows them killing people.
2. Profanity: Variants of "shit" are occasionally used.
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