Shazam! (12A)***
Dir: David F. Sandberg
With: Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Djimon Hounsou, Mark Strong
Runtime: 132 minutes
THE Easter holidays approach and first of the family blockbusters to show face is this cheeky, refreshingly enjoyable if overlong take on superhero movies.
Asher Angel plays Billy Batson, a teenager who has been in and out of foster homes in a seemingly endless quest for a family of his own. Destiny, and a wizard by the name of Shazam (Djimon Hounsou) has something else in mind for Billy, as does the dastardly Dr Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong), who wants the powers the youngster is given.
There’s a long story about the connection between Shazam and the name Captain Marvel that need only detain comic book geeks (no offence). Enough to say here that Shazam goes all out to charm. Zachary Levi, left (extra points for recognising him from The Marvellous Mrs Maisel) is a hoot as the hero who does not have a name to call his own, and the young cast of actors are a likeable bunch. Where the film falters is in set up, it takes forever for the tale to get going, and finale, complete with a seemingly endless fight scene.
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