There are moments when the film works well, but ultimately its unevenness undermines the enjoyment. The tone shifts abruptly between intense sequences with genuine consequences and humor suitable for very young viewers. Each time the character transforms, his personality alters significantly; Shazam behaves more like a five-year-old than the fifteen-year-old he is meant to be. Freddy’s behavior occasionally cr…

Following the Spider-Man films, this is easily the most irritating superhero movie I’ve encountered so far. It felt like almost an hour passed before anything remotely engaging happened, and throughout that time, viewers are subjected to two incredibly bothersome young actors. I'm truly relieved I chose not to see it in theaters, or I would have been hitting the fast-forward button repeatedly. The visuals were pro…

This movie manages to be enjoyable, touching, and full of genuine happiness. The formula for a successful superhero story—that’s what really matters—has become clear over the years.

If you enjoy reading my spoiler-free reviews, please follow my blog :) I wasn't familiar with Shazam at all before seeing the movie—I didn’t know what his powers were or what his story was about. What David F. Sandberg’s film does really well is introduce a new DC superhero, by crafting an unusually well-structured comic-book screenplay that’s full of laughter and exciting action. Zachary Levi truly stands out! He…

I watched the “Super Power Hour” featuring Shazam and Isis on TV when I was younger. It was back when superhero movies didn’t cost a fortune; we had to be happy with cartoons and cheaply made television shows that tried their best to capture the feel and action of comic books within whatever budget and technology they had. Warner Bros. has brought another DC hero to the screen with “Shazam!” hoping to start a new …