As what was revealed in Lego DC: Batman – Family Matters, the
next Lego DC movie revolves around
Shazam. Titled Lego DC: Shazam! – Magic and Monsters, it follows Shazam who has
been making a splash as the new superhero in town. When recruited by the Justice League to join
the team, he’s thrilled at first, but then becomes reluctant when he learns
that he needs to reveal to them that he’s really a 10-year-old boy named Billy
Batson. Meanwhile, the heroes must defeat
the Monster Society of Evil – Mr. Mind, Doctor Sivana, Jeepers, Oom, and Dummy –
who is secretly being manipulated by Black Adam to do his bidding.
I extremely enjoyed this movie. Now, I’ve always been fond of this series. But I believe this one has become one of my
favorites. It’s because, as a Shazam! movie, it delivers some things
that I wish the DCEU’s Shazam! movie
delivered.
First of all, I didn’t quite like
the characterization of Billy Batson in the DCEU movie, which was inspired by
the New 52 incarnation. He came off to
me as an edgy, bitter jerk. On the other
hand, the characterization of Lego DC
Billy is closer to the classic incarnation – kind, warm, light-hearted,
good-natured, and has an enthusiastic reverence for superheroes, especially for
Superman. The latter version of Billy
Batson just appealed to me more.
Second – and this is where it earned
my respect – Magic and Monsters has
the guts and wit to do a clever, hilarious “Captain Marvel” (a name that Shazam originally owns) reference. This
dialogue (SPOILER) delighted me to no end –
Perry White: “I mean, look at that profile. His chin looks like it was made of marble. That’s it! We’ll call him ‘Captain Marble’!”
Jimmy Olsen: “Already taken, chief.”
Totally brilliant gag, no? My biggest nitpick about the DCEU’s Shazam! was it didn’t do anything
something like that.
Moreover, the plot has a couple
of very entertaining elements. The most noteworthy
of which is (SPOILERS) the Justice League being turned into kids, and that they
start acting as such. A lot of funny
bits stem out from that, like Flash saying he doesn’t feel anything is
different after transforming into a kid (since he’s a man-child in the first
place), Alfred mistaking Bruce for Damien, and Batman having no Plan B because “at
[that] age, [he] wasn’t all that good at thinking ahead.”
I also like how Shazam’s “Wisdom
of Solomon” manifests. It provides him with
the ability to quote quotable quotes from notable persons in history. As far as I’m concerned, that’s the first
time this power is expressed in such an amusing way.
In the end, Lego DC: Shazam! – Magic and Monsters is still a kid’s movie. It has the usual cheesy themes and dumb
silliness. But it’s definitely a
satisfying caper for what it is, and an apposite vehicle for its featured
character.
Can’t wait for the next Lego DC installment (although this movie didn’t give any clue what it’s going to be).
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