After its highly-anticipated Friday, April 5 release, the latest DC superhero movie “Shazam!” brings a fresh comedic and action-packed film to the big screen.

The film illustrates the life of Billy Baxter, a mischievous foster teen who receives magical powers from a wizard to defeat villains Thaddeus Sivana and the Seven Sins. Billy is able to turn into a rugged superhero by yelling the word “Shazam!” As Billy learns to control his superpowers and defeat the villains, he discovers lessons about bravery and the true meaning of family and acceptance.

The plot of “Shazam!” is successful, taking the cliché superheroes-in-capes trope and giving it a fun twist. Many scenes are comedic, a nice change from the constant fighting present in other superhero movies. All the characters are sharp and witty, and play important roles to defeat Sivana. Unlike other DC movies, “Shazam!” focuses on themes regarding self-discovery and coming of age, which makes for a heartwarming film.

Although most of “Shazam!” is a fresh twist on superhero movies, the villain in the story is too basic and similar to other bad guys. Dr. Thaddeus Sivana portrays the role of the classic evil villain, being outcast as a kid and growing up to take revenge on poor, unfortunate souls. As expected, Billy is able to defeat the villain at the end. However, a post-credits scene reveals that Sivana will soon gain power and make a come-back, indicative of a sequel, or a crossover movie.

“Shazam!” is a great film to watch, encompassing a variety of themes such as family and bravery. This movie is the perfect blend of heavy and light, dark and comedic, making “Shazam!” a worthwhile watch.