But things get interesting in the dynamic between Billy and his foster brother Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer). The two go on a rampage of hilarious high jinks as they goofily skylark about town, discovering Billy's newfound powers. Again, not the most original idea, but here it is presented with the unbridled joy of two teens who have just found the keys to their parent's liquor cabinet.
Mark Strong brings his usual clipped vocal gravitas to the obligatory power-hungry villain. He has a warped version of Billy's parentless upbringing, but beyond that tiny nugget of character depth Strong's role is fairly undemanding, the kind of role that any actor with a semblance of screen presence could phone in. Indeed, he does just that.
Throw in plenty of punchsplosions along with an effects-laden finale and you have a DC flick that's more enjoyable than most of its predecessors. Shazam!, like the ridiculousness of its name, never takes itself too seriously. It's a sugar rush of a film, great while it lasts but has you plummeting off the high soon afterward.
Cast: Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer
Director: David F. Sandberg
Running time: 132 mins
Rating: M Violence
Verdict: Finally, some genuine laughs from DC