One of the bigger surprises of the cinematic year that is 2019 is the utter joy that is experiencing Shazam! Sure, Zachary Levi has waited his entire life for a role like the one he has in the latest addition to the DC Comics movie universe and he could not be any more perfect. But he is just one spoke in the wheel of awesomeness that is director David F. Sandberg’s utter gem.
Shazam! is out now on DVD, Blu-Ray and digital download formats and it is unequivocally one of the top-tier must-own home video releases of the year. Whereas some titles are ones we have to have in our collection due to the movie being the rare film experience that can be enjoyed viscerally more with each successive viewing, others offer insight with their bevy of bonus features that make the title an absolute addition to any film collection. Shazam! is both. The film itself is out of this world amazing and the bonus features are insightful, entertaining and add layers to the extraordinary experience that is the brilliance of Bill Parker and C.C. Beck’s comic book creation.
Asher Angel is Billy Batson. He’s an orphan who has bounced from foster home to foster home, continually having issues with his attitude and frankly—getting into trouble. When he lands at the foster home of Victor (Cooper Andrews) and Rosa Vasquez (Marta Milans), this time might be different. There is something that speaks to him about the home situation and of course it starts with the married couple who runs the foster home, sure, but there was an instant camaraderie with his “roommate” Freddy Freeman (Jack Dylan Grazer). In fact, his relationship with Freddy is what will lead him to a date with fate.
See, Freddy was being picked on because of his physical handicap that requires he walk with special crutches. When the bullies knock him to the ground, Billy grabs one of those crutches and smacks the daylights out of those sad sacks who picked on the wrong foster family. That selfless act struck a chord with a certain someone with supernatural powers and as he rides the Philadelphia subway, he winds up face to face with Wizard (Djimon Hounsou). He transfers his powers to the teen with the simple saying of his name, “Shazam!” With that utterance, he becomes the titular character (Levi) and a new superhero is born.
What is so terrific about the hero with the lightning bolt on his chest is that he has a keen sense of humor, something that is incredibly appealing in this cinematic milieu. He also has the heart and soul of a boy, even if he is doling out justice as a fully grown superhero man. It’s like Big, but with superpowers! The awe and wonder of it all is captured impeccably by Levi and it never fades as the film progresses, nor should it or would it. After all, if any of us, much less us when we were a young man, suddenly came into the fortune that is supernatural powers of flight, being bulletproof and lightning-fast, we would all act just like Levi does in Shazam! and that is just one element of what makes this film so bloody blissful.
Even when the fun of being a superhero could have abated a tad due to the presence of an uber-evil villain (Mark Strong’s Dr. Thaddeus Sivana), as Levi captures this character, things gets serious—sure—but there is still that element of blind joy that permeates the Chuck veteran’s characterization.
What else is amazing is that audiences seem to have grown weary of origin stories for superheroes. After all, since Iron Man premiered over a decade ago, there have been dozens upon dozens of “first flicks” that introduce us to a myriad of heroes and one thing has been clear… those that just “get on with things” have a special place in audiences’ collective hearts. After all, we did not really get an origins story of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, now did we? It was just “off to the races” with the character when he debuted in Captain America: Civil War.
So, it says so much that a Shazam! origins story would get so much love from a viewing public worn thin on such things. Again, it just speaks volumes to Levi’s performance, the entire ensemble’s talents, the rich source material of the comics, the directorial astuteness of Sandberg and the stellar script turned in by Henry Gayden.
When it comes to the Shazam! bonus features, must start with a stunning, almost half-hour long look at the making of the movie, entitled The Magical World of Shazam. This featurette finds Sandberg, Levi and Hounsou adding their insight into the creative process that served as filming the latest DC Comics cinematic entry. Filmmakers also went deep on this featurette with the addition of quotes from producer Peter Safran, writer Gayden, DP Maxime Alexandre, costume designer Leah Butler and visual effects maestro Cari Thomas. From stunt work to costuming to the look of the movie, they pack a lot into 27 minutes of moviemaking manna.
For more on the film itself, check out our theatrical Shazam! review!
Have to salute the all-too-short Super Fun Zac because it is an incredibly in-depth look (despite its brevity) at Levi’s casting, as well as a video chronicle of what he’s like on the set in between takes. One thing becomes clear, as if it wasn’t from the movie itself (!) … Levi is having the time of his life.
Carnival Scene Study is a just-over ten minute look of the huge climatic ending sequence and how the jaw-dropping effort was captured. From the special effects insight, practical stunt choreography and execution to the enormous background props … this Scene Study feels like it would be something experience in a film school class. Just amazing …
This is a movie geared towards the younger superhero fans and rightfully so … the lead is 14-years-old! So, you don’t want to miss Shazamily Values which puts a spotlight on the young actors who make this movie their own and without them, it would fail to be so bloody brilliant.
There is a slew (over 30 minutes worth) of deleted and alternate scenes included in the bonus features that don’t add too much to the overall experience of the film, but they are fascinating. What you won’t want to miss is the Exclusive Motion Comic: “Superhero Hooky.” It finds the cast reprising their roles from the flick, the artwork is top notch and above everything—it’s another chance to see our new favorite DC Comics hero do his thing.
The gag reel is pretty funny, even if it’s just a few minutes. Lastly, there is Who is Shazam? The history of the character (who also goes by Captain Marvel) and his nemesis in this flick, Dr. Silvana is explored in detail—including looks directly at the comics from which they were introduced and before this flick, did all their best work.
Film Grade: A
Bonus Features: A