Shazam! Review: 7 Ups & 3 Downs

6. It Actually Feels Like A DCEU Movie

Shazam Zachary Levi
Warner Bros.

It wouldn't have been remotely surprising if Shazam! ended up feeling like a DCEU movie that was a bit embarrassed to admit it was a DCEU movie, and in light of Justice League's failure, it pretty much just functioned as a totally standalone superhero movie.

So a surprise it is to report that Shazam! is a movie fully, proudly in the thrall of a universe, yet never in a manner where it feels like it's desperately reaching for tie-in potential with other superheroes.

There are literally dozens of name-drops, references and sight gags related to Superman and Batman alone, to say nothing of more subtle nods to Wonder Woman, Aquaman and The Flash (sorry, Cyborg, but we didn't spot anything for you).

Though there aren't any explicit tips of the hat to the events of recent DCEU movies, the film does a fantastic job immersing its characters in the same world without taking things too far.

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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.