Lego DC Shazam!: Magic and Monsters is a 2020 American animated superhero comedy film based on the DC Comics and Lego brands. The film is produced by DC Entertainment, The Lego Group and Warner Bros. Animation and distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.[2] It is the tenth Lego DC Comics film and was released on digital on April 28, and on Blu-ray and DVD on June 16, 2020.[3] The film received positive reviews from critics, with praise for the humor and action.[4]
A hero known as Shazam has made his debut and is attracting media attention for his sudden arrival and polite mannerisms. Unbeknownst to the public, he is a young orphan boy named Billy Batson. Superman encounters the Monster Society of Evil, who are trying to steal food for their master, Mister Mind, and calls Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, and Green Lantern for help. Witnessing this, Shazam decides to aid the Justice League, demonstrating his powers to them and forcing the Society to retreat. Impressed by Shazam's capabilities, the League invite him to the Hall of Justice, where they offer Shazam membership. Shazam dismisses their offer, believing they will reject him if they discover his actual age.
Consulting The Wizard, who gave him his powers, for advice, Shazam is told that relationships are built on trust and that he should be more open to the League. Sensing a disturbance, the Wizard then tells Shazam to help the League when they follow the Society to their hideout, which Shazam agrees to do.
Unfortunately, Mister Mind captures the League and, using a chemical concocted by Doctor Sivana, transforms them into children, making them more susceptible to his mind control. Although de-aged, Batman avoids being mind-controlled and escapes to the Batcave with Shazam's help. Batman is reluctant to trust him, so Shazam reveals his secret identity while also recounting his origin: After aiding Batman in a duel with Two-Face, Billy Batson continued to go about his daily routine while also generously helping others in need. Billy is eventually led into a subway station, boarding a bizarre-looking train that takes him to the Rock of Eternity, where he meets the Wizard in person. The Wizard explains that he disguised himself as ordinary citizens to test Billy's purity of heart and see if he was worthy of becoming his new champion after the previous champion, Black Adam, became corrupted by his power and was sealed away. Accepting the Wizard's offer, Billy is gifted his new powers and proceeds to spend his days as Shazam while also enjoying the perks of being an adult. Billy then explains that despite everything, he still longs for a family of his own. Batman reveals his secret identity to Billy and explains that he is also an orphan, becoming more trusting of him.
Across the world, the mind-controlled Leaguers steal food for Mister Mind, but Batman and Shazam locate and free them from Mister Mind's control. Reunited, the League plan to infiltrate the Society's lair by pretending to capture Batman and Shazam and bring them to Mister Mind. Unfortunately, they are swiftly exposed and forced to fight their way to Mister Mind, ultimately defeating the Society. When Shazam and the League encounter Mister Mind, they discover that he has undergone metamorphosis and grown into a giant moth.
The group attempt to escape to the Rock of Eternity to gain help from the Wizard, but Mister Mind follows them and devours the Rock, resulting in him increasing in size and freeing Adam. Adam then betrays Mister Mind by reducing him to his caterpillar form and sending him into space.
Seeking vengeance against the Wizard, Adam attacks the Rock and overwhelms the League. While the Wizard holds back Adam, the League escapes to Earth. Knowing Adam will be coming for them, they make preparations and rebuild their vehicles to account for their reduced stature.
Arriving on Earth, Adam fights and overpowers the League. Remembering the Wizard's advice and how Adam was able to depower Mister Mind, Shazam shares his power with the League, enhancing their abilities and returning them to their normal age. This also reveals his secret identity to them, but they are not upset and tell him that his age doesn't matter as long as they do the right thing. The League defeats Adam and regain their powers, while Adam is depowered and reduced to a mortal man.
With Adam arrested and their adulthood restored, the League show their gratitude by reuniting Billy with his sister Mary and Uncle Dudley. In a mid-credit scene, Lobo apprehends Mister Mind for his $1,000,000,000,000 bounty, much to his dismay.
Tom Cassidy for Common Sense Media gave the film a three out of five star rating and commented, "The movie is bright, colorful, and lighthearted. It's rendered in the very familiar Lego style that is across toys, video games, TV series, and movies. This nudges it toward brand saturation. But it's delivered with enough wit and fun to make it not feel cynical. The superhero action and storyline runs out of steam a little early. But with its strong themes of trust and teamwork, along with Shazam's unending enthusiasm, it's a cheery time suitable for a range of ages."[5]
