Shazam!

The second of two movies watched on our flight, Shazam! is the story of Billy Batson, the 14-year-old orphan who jumps from foster home to foster home, always searching for his mother. Out of the blue, he's pulled into an ancient battle . . . a wizard chooses him to be his new champion, granting him impressive abilities and instant transformation to (and from) an adult body with just one word. But his mind remains that of a 14-year-old in either state, so hilarity ensues as he tries his new powers and figures out what to do next. But time is running out . . . Dr. Sivana is after Billy's powers, and he enlists the aid of the seven deadly sins (personified in demonic form) to do so. How can Billy possibly overcome?

This movie was a mixed bag for me. It's primarily a comedy, and does well there. But there are hints of other elements:

- poignant pain in Billy's quest for his mother

- deep darkness in the demons (the bad scenes are short but freaky)

- theological thoughts, as the wizard tries (and fails) to find someone worthy to be champion, so he (apparently) chooses Billy randomly, with no explanation given

I enjoyed the film overall- more than I expected. The comedy and pain were done well, and 'mixed' to good effect. I would have liked to see more exploration on the theological front, a touch less darkness [debating whether to show the kids]. But overall, I count this a winner.

Rating: B+