MovieChat Forums > Shazam! (2019) Discussion > Shazam and Billy - totally different cha...

Shazam and Billy - totally different characters

posted 3 years ago by Drooch (5333)
7 replies | jump to latest

I really enjoyed this film but I never felt like Zachary Levi’s Shazam was Angel Asher’s Billy character in a BIG-style grownup body (with powers).

Billy was a sullen, wounded, introverted, too-cool-for-school moody teen with a sharp wit, whereas Shazam was a goofy, excitable, extroverted, happy-go-lucky, quippy 10-year old in a man-bod.

Now yes, I get that having the powers might make a cynical kid a bit more optimistic, but it was like they’d completely lobotomised the cynicism and soulful sadness from his brain turning him into Happy Adam Sandler.

Billy never smiled, Shazam permanently had a shit-eating grin.

I was wondering if I was missing some plot element that meant his personality would morph too, but when I saw the other foster kids turn into adults and retain their personalities I was sure it was a performance problem.

Levi simply didn’t play Billy - he needed to at least show some of the wounded cynicism in amongst the clowning, or the director should have sprinkled some of Shazam’s puppy-like qualities into Billy. Asher seemed sincere, Levi seemed like a stand-up comedian doing his first movie.

It didn’t sink the film, I still really liked it, but it was a quite a bum note in a otherwise pitch-perfect Superhero comedy.

Anyone else notice this?

[–] SandyR (7408) 3 years ago

Sure did.

[–] HorrorMetal (837) 2 years ago

I thought the exact same thing when I first saw this, they were like two completely different characters. In the early comics, Billy and Captain Marvel (way before he was stupidly renamed Shazam, the same name as the wizard) did have mostly separate personalities but that’s no longer the case in most current iterations.

But I suppose that the extreme adrenaline rush that comes with suddenly having incredible super powers could make any brooding, morose, and angst-ridden teen possibly become a lot more exuberant and manic. And then when said powers are turned off, he could become sullen and moody once more as he is back to feeling “worthless” and “weak”. All of his ordinary problems are back and he doesn’t have the strength to deal with them again until he says the magic word. Plus he wants to hide his other identity and can’t go around telling bullies at school that he actually becomes an adult superhero sometimes.

I guess any really depressed and socially awkward person could potentially become super excited, cheerful, and optimistic upon receiving amazing abilities. It is funny how Billy seemed a lot more mature and adult-like than his powerful “grown up” alter ego though.

[–] AdamSephens (79) 2 years ago

Had the exact same reaction

[–] HarlemEagle42 (16250) a year ago

I felt the same way.

[–] Otter (24464) a year ago

I didn't feel the same way, if there was any difference I attributed it to the kid enjoying his new powerful body and superpowers, while he was Shazam.

It was the only time Billy ever enjoyed anything. I liked the film, BTW, fun piffle.

[–] MrMovie (845) a year ago

It’s much worse in the new one because Billy is 18 now and yet Shazam still acts like he’s 10

[–] [email protected] (1640) a year ago

I'm a new Elvis fan since Baz's 2022 film. Captain Marvel (aka Shazam) plays a prominent role in the film. I've read a number of Elvis books since then including 7 issues of Captain Marvel ad Elvis read them. It seems like Billy's character is quite different in the 50s compared to the Billy you describe. Though he is also not as goofy as this reiteration, he wasn't cynical either.