After a year that’s been filled with nothing but losses from Warner and the now finished DCEU franchise, “Blue Beetle” is the win that they sorely needed. Thankfully, I’m very elated to say that Angel Manuel Soto’s adaptation of the acclaimed DC Comic is a great film. It manages to pull off a lot of what “The Flash” and “Fury of the Gods” didn’t by offering a fantastic narrative and some wonderful action, packed with great themes about family, culture, and unity. “Blue Beetle” is teeming with positivity, even when it’s at its darkest, as it promotes a lot of universal ideas of leaning on family, figuring out how to endure through pain, and figuring out your inner power.
After executive Jenny Kord uncovers a plot involving use of a mysterious technology, college graduate Jaime Reyes suddenly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology called the Scarab. When the sentient 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. Now he has to face off against evil weapons manufacturer Victoria, all while learning to become a real superhero.
“Blue Beetle” is a great film to go out on in 2023, and I hope it’s an indicator of things to come with James Gunn steering the ship at DC and Warner now. “Blue Beetle” really understands the idea and themes injecting them organically without ever feeling like they’re stepping on a soap box. The odyssey of Jaime Reyes from reluctant hero to superhero is one we’ve seen a thousand times, admittedly, but it’s accomplished here very well thanks in a big part to star Xolo Maridueña. Maridueña who is mostly known for his starring role in “Cobra Kai,” offers an enthusiastic and passionate performance as Jaime, a young man looking for a fresh start after college who ultimately meets his destiny.
He’s forced in to the role of superhero and gradually learns to accept his fate, especially in the face of his sentient armor tech Khaji-Da (voiced very well by Becky G). Xolo Maridueña is so good in the role of Jaime, playing the character as likable and charming, but incredibly relatable. He’s complimented by the large cast of noted latin actors including Adriana Barraza, Damián Alcázar, Belissa Escobedo, and George Lopez, respectively. They not only manage to evoke some great laughs, but help keep a lot of the more fantastic elements of “Blue Beetle” grounded and heartfelt. The movie always runs the risk of diving head first in to cheesy side plots, but the cast’s sincerity help them shine often. Susan Sarandon also does a bang up job as kind of female Obadiah Stane who seeks to implement the Scarab for more nefarious purposes, with the powerful OMAC at her beck and call.
Although the movie does pack some violence, “Blue Beetle” sticks true to its science fiction roots, employing some excellent CGI bringing to life the Scarab suit, as well as the villainous OMAC (Raoul Max Trujillo is great), in the process. I had a great time watching Jaime understand the idea of this massive power, and be steered in to the right direction all thanks to his family, in the end. The writers stick with this recurring theme right through the very end. I hope if there is a sequel down the road, we can see the Reyes family appear in James Gunns’ new vision for the DC Movie universe. “Blue Beetle” really manages to please and entertain on all fronts as an exciting, fun, and wholesome superhero origin that I hope returns very soon.
I hope this inspires studios to also begin digging up more diverse superheroes and give them their spotlight. There are a bevy of avengers and heroes waiting for their turns.