There’s a lot in Shazam! It seems like a fairly simple premise at first glance – boy receives super powers from a dying wizard; turns into a man-sized superhero whenever he says the name – but there are layers and nuances stirred into the mix that give the whole thing a more substantial feel, while remaining fairly light in overall tone.

It’s no mean feat on the part of director David F. Sandberg, and writers Henry Gayden and Darren Lemke. What they have achieved is a remarkable balancing act between comedy, drama, scariness, and social commentary – some of which is welcome, and some of which has drawn criticism. All of it, though, is very, very interesting.