MOVIE REVIEW: BLUE BEETLE

 

Jaime Reyes suddenly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology called the Scarab. When the Scarab chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he's bestowed with an incredible suit of armor that's capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the superhero Blue Beetle.

Director: Angel Manuel Soto

Cast: Xolo Maridueña, Bruna Marquezine, Elpidia Carrillo, Belissa Escobedo, Adriana Barraza, Damián Alcázar, Raoul Max Trujillo, Susan Sarandon, George Lopez, Harvey Guillén, Becky G

Release Date: August 18, 2023

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rated PG-13 for sequences of action and violence, language, and some suggestive references

Runtime: 2h 7m

Blue Beetle isn't going to win any awards for originality since it plays like a Spiderman, Iron Man, Green Lantern mash up regurgitated as an origin story.  Needless to say the film hits some very familiar beats but Angel Manuel Soto manages to  deliver an energetic, entertaining ride almost in spite of itself.  Soto smartly leans into the cultural, familial aspect of the titular hero's Mexican culture which gives the film a different sort of energy.  Its nothing as expansive as the Black Panther films since this story is much smaller with lower stakes and a heavier focus on the central family.  There's a charming authenticity to it which makes the whole thing much more likable and funny even though the film plays out in a predictable manner.  Xolo Maridueña leads the film with a fun, believably frazzled turn as Jaime Reyes who unwittingly becomes the Blue Beetle.  Maridueña has a natural screen presence that lets him shine through some of the scripts clunkier moments.  The film works best when he's pair with his onscreen family played by Elpidia Carrillo, Belissa Escobedo, Adriana Barraza, Damián Alcázar and George Lopez.  As an ensemble, they all play off each other well in an organic manner paired with solid comedic timing.  Not faring as well is Bruna Marquezine who's saddled with the pseudo love interest/story exposition role and not much else.  The villains are just as undercooked with Raoul Max Trujillo and Susan Sarandon delivering one note turns with the latter chewing up scenery with a mustache twirling glee.  The final act brings that issue front and center which makes the home stretch far more clunky than it needed to be.  That being said Blue Beetle  still manages to be a fun, family friendly comic book adaptation thanks in large part to its likable central cast and energetic director.

B-