One of the things that made “Shazam!” so engaging, entertaining, and different was that it brought humor, an endearing irreverence, and an exploration and development of character that satisfied the initiated but also drew in the unfamiliar. It felt natural, full of vigor, and inspired.

READ MORE: ‘Shazam’: David F. Sandberg Talks’ Fury Of The Gods’ & The Future Of The Franchise [Interview]

An attempt to recapture that with “Shazam!

Continue reading ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ Review: The Magic Fizzles As Lightning Doesn’t Strike Twice On This DC Franchise at The Playlist.

We’re deep enough into the era of superhero movies that new films don’t just adapt an old character anew; they graft familiar forms and genres to comic book stories. “Shazam!” is the latest Warner Bros. film to extend the DC Universe on the big screen, but the film feels just as much like an Amblin Entertainment movie as it does a DC Comics film. It is bright and colorful, both visually and emotionally, in the way that DC movies had not been prior to “Wonder Woman” and “Aquaman.” Because the hero Shazam is a boy in a man’s body, the obvious point of reference is “Big” crossed with Superman — but in terms of how “Shazam!” actually feels, it’s surprisingly like “Gremlins” with superpowers.

Continue reading ‘Shazam!’ Is A Playful & Vibrant Star-Making Machine For Zachary Levi [Review] at The Playlist.