The central character, Billy Batson, loses his mother at an early age and spends his time searching for her, whilst moving from one foster home to another. He eventually ends up in a house where the carers have five other adopted kids, all of whom are close and settled, but Billy remains aloof and alone.

If only the film had carried on exploring this, after Billy acquires superpowers. Instead, there is an inevitable showdown with a supervillain.

On the plus side, the film is funny and sharp, and the teenagers reaction to superpowers believable.

This superhero movie could have been so much better if they had just focused on the origin story and left the villain to the sequel.

The finale could have been Shazam rescuing people from a natural disaster, for example, rather than a prolonged punch up with the baddie. It would have been unique too.

Still fun though, worth seeing.