‘Blue Beetle’ Movie Review: Xolo Maridueña Is Fantastic As The DCU’s First (Awesome) Superhero
Photo from Warner Bros.
From Joe Peltzer
A refreshingly fun origin story of an unexpected new hero, Blue Beetle takes DC back to basics with spirited performances, Latino energy, and a whole lot of heart for one of the best DC outings in years.
The film follows recent college graduate Jaime Reyes (Xolo Maridueña) who is chosen by an ancient relic to serve as host to magnificent powers that a devious businesswoman (Susan Sarandon) is after, putting both him and family in danger. Think Venom meets Shazam with tinges of Spider-Man and Iron Man. Blue Beetle is, at its core, a film about family and destiny, the Reyes family serving as the emotional core of the narrative. Jaime’s father and Nana are portrayed by Mexican acting legends Damián Alcázar and Adriana Barraza respectively, their involvement in this film symbolic of the importance of the representation Blue Beetle ushers to the big screen and knocks out of the park. Add in the absolutely hilarious George Lopez as Jaime’s uncle (he doesn’t miss with any joke delivery), Elpidia Carrillo as his charming mother, and the ruthlessly honest and hysterical Belissa Escobedo as his sister and you have a familial foundation that surges through the film from start to finish. It results in a more accessible superhero film that will appeal to fans of all ages and especially families.
On the whole, the film doesn’t do a lot different than others that have come before it, but in building the film around authentic Latino representation and allowing the talented stars to own their roles, director Angel Manuel Soto delivers a solid start for the titular character. The humor is on point, the love interest present (Bruna Marquezine kicks ass as Jenny Kord), and the world-building exciting in that it feels like the start of a new adventure.
Blue Beetle brings the action one would expect, as well, the third act peppered with action sequences that utilize a refreshing balance of practical and VFX. The suit is downright awesome; Maridueña simply looks really cool when rocking it without the mask. The fighting style will be immediately recognizable to fans of the Injustice video games series, Blue Beetle’s moves being directly pulled from the second game. When he is battling Raoul Max Trujillo’s Carapax, both in the third act and earlier, this style brings a unique look to the Green Lantern-esque display of powers (if Jaime can imagine it, Becky G’s JARVIS-like Khaji-Da will produce it). Sarandon’s Victoria Kord is a foe reminiscent of other corporate villains, but with a strong actor such as Sarandon stepping in to this introduction to Jaime Reyes’ character, why fix what isn’t broken?
Quite simply, it all works here (with the exception of some silly dialogue that I will let slide). Maridueña is an absolute star (which we knew from Cobra Kai), bringing this unique character to life akin to how Iron Man was pulled out of obscurity to launch the MCU for Marvel Studios. Knowing that Blue Beetle is the first character of the new DCU under James Gunn and Peter Safran, I am all in if this is the vibe they are going for. Introduce these characters, both the ones we’re hyper-familiar with (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, etc.) and the fresh entries, with simple stories that focus on the two hours of storytelling without sacrificing for the inevitable larger puzzle being put together. Blue Beetle works because it never loses focus on the story that it is telling; only minor references to other DC characters are included. If the DCU takes the time to do this with their first chapter of films, which the studio arguably should have done following 2013’s Man of Steel, then I do believe we’re in for a vibrant future of DC films. Blue Beetle is the blueprint.
Rating: 4/5
Blue Beetle is now playing in theaters.
