Shazam!

To think that we live in a world where two different Captain Marvel movies can exist at the same time via their respective companies. If you don't get why I made that reference, don't worry about it. Means you're more normal than me.

Anyways, through Fandango, I was able to see Shazam! a full two weeks before it's actual release. When this movie was first announced, I thought it was a stretch in the same way that Ant-Man was for Marvel. This is the movie that I felt no one was asking for. Like Ant-Man, I was pleasantly surprised by a movie that was unmoored from the current continuity of the DC Movie universe. People were name dropped, but do not appear in this movie. I will make this as spoiler free as possible.

First off, let me say this. This movie is fun. This is the light hearted movie that DC needed. Frankly, I'm surprised it has taken this long.

I love that this movie used the more modern take of Shazam as written by Geoff Johns over the past few years. Billy is a big ol' jerkface, as opposed to the clean cut, bright eyed portrayal of him that existed before. There is a reason for this and I don't want to go into it because it would give away some plot points.

The thing this movie did that "Aquaman", "Suicide Squad", "Justice League", "Man of Steel" and "Batman V Superman" failed to do is not take itself too seriously. Each one of those movies jumped straight into world ending fare, as opposed to just having a central villain that is the threat to our hero. Does the villain in this story, Sivana, have world domination aspirations? Well... yeah. Have you not read a comic book before? However, he starts by just wanting Shazam's power. So he's not destroying the world FIRST. Also, he had his own axe to grind, which honestly, you kind of get.

I thought all the actors did a really good job. I want to give Zachary Levi the most credit because I'm happy to see how far he's come since the TV show, "Chuck." He turned out to be the perfect person to play Shazam. This felt very much like Tom Hank's portrayal in the movie, "Big." He has to act like a teenager in an adult's body and I'm glad that they have fun with it and don't take it to gross places.

While all the kid actors were good, Darla was easily my favorite. I don't use this word often but I will say it. She was precious.

There were a lot of legitimately funny moments in this film. Like I said, it didn't take itself too seriously and it had fun with some of the situations the characters find themselves in. There is a good bit during a fight scene at the end of the movie that I don't want to give away. Also, the different ways in which Shazam learns what his powers are turned out to be pretty fun as well.

This movie is your basic hero coming of age story. Admittedly, I am always a sucker for that. Mix that with this wish fulfillment aspect of the character and it makes for a very enjoyable film. I will also be honest with you all because it's just us. This movie had a lot of feels. Maybe due to my desire to have kids one day. There it is, I just made myself vulnerable for you all. I hope you're happy!

Out of all the recent DC movies we've had with the start of Man of Steel, this is easily my second favorite movie behind Wonder Woman. When it comes out, definitely go see it for a good, fun time.