No need to worry if Warner Bros./DC and director David F. Sandberg could pull off the goofy, fun, and full of heart ’80s tone of Shazam! The embargo has lifted on the first, surprisingly glowing audience reactions to the superhero movie, although full reviews are still under wraps until March 23rd. And don’t bother comparing this Captain Marvel to the other Captain Marvel, because it sounds like Shazam! has a completely different tone.
From nearly all accounts, the movie is a win for David F. Sandberg [aka @ponysmasher, a Twitter handle befitting the seriousness of Twitter]. It also sounds like a win for child actor Jack Dylan Grazer (who was repeatedly praised as a scene stealer in his role as Freddy Freeman) and a win for anybody who likes heartwarming depictions of realistically-imperfect but loving foster families and silly teenage hijinks.
Most importantly, perhaps, is that the audience members who posted their impressions on Twitter seem to agree that this isn’t a movie trying to shoehorn itself into an extended universe. It’s a Shazam! movie, with the goofiness, ’80s kid movie subversiveness, and humor the source material calls for. Some of the reactions below even compared it to Deadpool in its embrace of doing its own thing and committing to the jokes.
Here’s what people have been saying:
#SHAZAM! is pure joy that would have been right at home in the Amblin era. It has huge heart, loads of laughs, and even a few (welcome) scares. @ponysmasher combines classic charm and modern irreverence to create a thrilling superhero adventure for all. #SHAZAMMovie pic.twitter.com/3S7OYIjVos
— Sean Gerber (@MrSeanGerber) March 8, 2019
#Shazam is a laugh-out-loud funny romp that captures the innocence and challenge of being both a superhero and a kid at once. It’s clever, fun and heroic with an obvious nod to 80s classics like Big, Ghostbusters, The Goonies etc. @joblocom @ShazamMovie
— Arctic Ninja (@arcticninjapaul) March 8, 2019
#Shazam is big, goofy, lovable, and unlike anything DC has done before. Definitely in the vein of Tom Hanks' BIG, but with superhero action & lots of Batman and Superman references. I dug this film so much I wanted to give it a bear hug at the end. DC's movies keep getting better pic.twitter.com/WQJgo61gMg
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) March 8, 2019
@ZacharyLevi exudes charisma and playfulness throughout, while showing the vulnerability and strength needed to pull off the superhero gig. He’s got the spark, to be sure, and I hope to see #Shazam pop up again and again in the DCEU, be it solo or team-up. @joblocom @ShazamMovie
— Arctic Ninja (@arcticninjapaul) March 8, 2019
#Shazam is an absolute joy. Both definitely in the DCEU and nothing at all like any DCEU movie so far, it’s funny, warm, good hearted and silly and the cast is terrific. Watch out for our review soon. pic.twitter.com/NNPU5hqNtv
— Den Of Geek UK (@denofgeek) March 8, 2019
#Shazam was damn near PERFECT in my book. My FAVORITE DC movie (DCEU? What are we saying now?) by far. Pure of heart, incredibly funny, full of in-jokes and references. Brought me a childlike joy to watch. This role was MADE for @ZacharyLevi… & Jack & Asher & the entire cast pic.twitter.com/rVrxjcwvCe
— Ash Crossan (@AshCrossan) March 8, 2019
#Shazam is parts Home Alone, parts Big, a crowd pleasing family-friendly joy-filled wish-fulfillment superhero film which gets a bit over the top and cheesy at times. It’s fun and funny, and I was surprised at how much it wears it’s heart on its sleeve.
— /Film (@slashfilm) March 8, 2019
#Shazam is a super-powered BIG & I LOVED every second of it. A colorful, vibrant, vital addition to the DCEU. Vivid character-driven action, heartrending central relationships & fully earned, totally satisfying emotional moments. Super hilarious. Super thrilling. Super awesome! pic.twitter.com/KelHZ5YzFq
— Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) March 8, 2019
There are so many hilarious and absolutely clever moments in #Shazam that I lost track. There's no other superhero movie like this in existence. You never feel been-there-done-that with this one, even if some of it falls into the realm of stereotypical character tropes. @joblocom
— Arctic Ninja (@arcticninjapaul) March 8, 2019
#Shazam is another gigantic win for DC following #Aquaman and #WonderWoman and is just so different from both of them. I love it.
— BD (@BrandonDavisBD) March 8, 2019
DC is finally building a solid run: #Shazam is a delight! Its familiar origin structure is forgivable because of all the new it brings to the table – primarily it's gleeful, childlike enthusiasm, & heartfelt perspective on family. It's also the role Zachary Levi was born to play. pic.twitter.com/5zXtfFDBGm
— Eric Eisenberg (@eeisenberg) March 8, 2019
#Shazam is an incredible film. It is full of heart and humor. The kids are phenomenal and have great chemistry. Zachary Levi was perfectly cast and the action was awesome. This is one of DC’s best! pic.twitter.com/VSpHbSDjBM
— Geeks of Color (@GeeksOfColor) March 8, 2019
Really like #ShazamMovie! @ZacharyLevi is PERFECTLY cast as the teenager in a hero’s body, maintaining that innocence – and teenage petulance – in the ideal ratio. It’s decidedly smaller scale than #Aquaman but has a LOT of great surprises. DC fans will devour it! pic.twitter.com/pPv4Z8HePB
— Sean O'Connell (@Sean_OConnell) March 8, 2019
loved #Shazam. It's super fun, very funny (a few times people were laughing so loud I missed dialogue), and exactly what they set out to make: 'Big' meets Superman. @ZacharyLevi is perfectly cast but the real surprise is @Jgrazerofficial as Freddy Freeman. Steals the show. pic.twitter.com/ssvs8Dwc2P
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) March 8, 2019
The cast of #Shazam is just genius. @ZacharyLevi, @AsherAngel , @smugorange, and Mark Strong are all just awesome. I had a blast watching all of them, and they play such different parts.
Jack Dylan Glazer is an absolute scene stealer as Freddy Freeman.
— BD (@BrandonDavisBD) March 8, 2019
The scene stealer of #Shazam is Jack Dylan Grazer who is perfect as Freddy. Smart, hilarious, vulnerable & with plenty of attitude, he’s the second half of the heart of the film, with Asher Angel’s Billy Batson supplying the rest. Shazam & Freddy together are pure gold. @joblocom
— Arctic Ninja (@arcticninjapaul) March 8, 2019
#Shazam is an absolute delight! Super vibrant, tons of heart & a great fun-loving vibe. The family element is a big charmer & so is the humor that comes with watching @ZacharyLevi explore his new powers. Said this after IT but it's worth repeating – @Jgrazerofficial is a star.
— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) March 8, 2019
I absolutely loved #Shazam! It's my favorite DC film yet. Zachary Levi as Shazam was perfect casting and the kids absolutely steal the show. It's an amazing family movie with dope fight scenes and great humor! You guys are going to love it. pic.twitter.com/pZd5oORVA3
— Dorian Parks (@DorianParksnRec) March 8, 2019
I loved #Shazam. I loved its sense of humor and kids playing, loved how it championed foster families and really related to how it showed young boys getting jealous of each other.
— Franchise Fred (@FranchiseFred) March 8, 2019
#Shazam is such a brilliant movie. It’s so tremendously fun, and incredibly scary at some points (thanks, David F. Sandberg!). It blows away every expectation and is my new favorite DC movie. pic.twitter.com/DlpymCukTP
— BD (@BrandonDavisBD) March 8, 2019
#Shazam was shockingly good! Reminds of me of when kids’ movies were legitimately scary (in a good way). An absolute blast from start to finish, full of heart and hilarity. My face hurt from smiling so much. Amazing deep cut DC references in there too. pic.twitter.com/ZXJOI5lcsM
— Dan Casey (@DanCasey) March 8, 2019
https://twitter.com/AshleyGMenzel/status/1103837950863962113
#Shazam is a BLAST! @ZacharyLevi is perfect as Earth’s Mightiest Mortal and the film has such heart. Very unique take on genre that doesn’t take itself too seriously & embraces the weirdness of comics. Mindblowing easter eggs for hardcore fans! 👊⚡️ pic.twitter.com/PbLGNXCkKy
— Nicholas Whitcomb (@Whos_Nick) March 8, 2019
Loved #Shazam It's #Deadpool with heart. It's playful, smart, and so funny. It manages to balance being both meta and sincere at once — no easy feat! There's so much joy and whimsy, and yet there's a fair bit of appropriate menace that really adds to the stakes. pic.twitter.com/nGjJQOLrWY
— Roth Cornet (@RothCornet) March 8, 2019
Shazam! is DC’s most joyful & sweet movie since the era of Christopher Reeve’s Superman, a funny yet earnest coming of age story about a boy who learns that, well, with great power comes great responsibility. It doesn’t reinvent the superhero movie wheel, but it’s undeniably fun! pic.twitter.com/rdT8zljkxo
— Jim Vejvoda (@JimVejvoda) March 8, 2019
Another thing that's great about #Shazam is #DC didn't try and make a movie that fits in perfectly with the larger DC Universe. They just focused on making a great Shazam movie and hit a homerun. DC is def on a winning streak. Bring on Todd Phillips 'Joker'! pic.twitter.com/sH1kyprCMZ
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) March 8, 2019
#Shazam is as liberated a comic book movie for DC as Deadpool was for Fox-Marvel;, not in the latter’s profanely meta way but in a similarly hilarious, lovable, and oddly sweet manner. It makes you understand why Shazam the character has endured for eight decades. pic.twitter.com/zgsfmagVML
— Jim Vejvoda (@JimVejvoda) March 8, 2019
Shazam! opens April 5th.
(Hat tip to io9, The Playlist, and CBM)