'Lego DC: Shazam! – Magic and Monsters' Does Some Things Better Than the DCEU's 'Shazam!'

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).