Jaime Reyes has stars in his eyes and aims for a plush job to elevate his family from their life of struggle. His dad, Alberto (Damián Alcázar), has heart issues, but that doesn’t stop the loving father from keeping a positive outlook. Thanks to Jaime’s sister Milagro (Belissa Escobedo), the recent graduate takes on a low-level gig tending to the mansion of Victoria Kord (Susan Sarandon), the CEO of Kord Industries. He meets Victoria’s niece Jenny Kord (Bruna Marquezine) there, and the two hit it off immediately. But instead of making his way into the multi-billion dollar corporation, Jaime accidentally bonds with a biotechnological alien scarab known as Khaji-Da. Xolo Maridueña pours his heart into the role of Jaime Reyes and Blue Beetle with a lot of intensity and charisma. His commitment is palpable in a star-making performance. Through Maridueña, Jaime makes quite an impression and is a well-earned addition to the DC Universe with a promising future for both the character and the actor. Susan Sarandon brings her own edge but is relegated to generic power-hungry villainy with her evil tycoon Victoria Kord. As a bad guy, Carapax (Raoul Max Trujillo) fares better with his tragic motivations, but that emotional connection is diminished once the masks are on. To that effect, ‘Blue Beetle’ tells a much better story when it sticks to the Reyes family dynamics with the scope focused on them rather than the larger baddie stuff. The film’s family values are rooted in Latin American culture, which director Angel Manuel Soto celebrates. This brings value to the screenplay, giving it its own distinctive tone. Each family member has a significant role, getting their time in the spotlight. George Lopez’s excellent comedic talents keep hitting a sweet spot, while Adriana Barraza’s Gatling-gun granny stands out. Nonetheless, the similarities between this origin tale and certain others are undeniable. It takes many cues from other films that have done this all before. But that’s not entirely a bad thing since Blue Beetle’s family dynamic adds an appealing spin. However, it can’t escape the third-act climax woes which are par for the course of such movies. Some VFX looks rough and unfinished, especially in one crucial scene. Thankfully, the superhero design and suit look sharp, and each transformation scene is quite effective. Although it is uncertain where this hero falls into DCU’s reboot and doesn’t reinvent the wheel of origin stories, ‘Blue Beetle’ has a lot of fun introducing this new character.Read more

Let’s face it, superhero movies have not been impressive in the recent years. Be it DC or Marvel Cinematic Universe, I could count the movies that I had fun watching. Shazam! Fury of the Gods aka Shazam 2 being one of them. So when my expectations from Blue Beetle weren’t high, considering the superhero isn’t as popular as other superheroes of his age. However, I must admit, I found myself shushing people who were talking in between the climax scene and realised I was invested in the Angel Manuel Soto directorial. Starring Xolo Maridueña and Bruna Marquezine in the lead, Blue Beetle is DC Extended Universe’s third theatrical release this year. Unlike the previous two films, Shazam 2 and The Flash, Blue Beetle did not walk into the DC’s big screen superhero universe with a baggage of the remains of will there-won’t there Zack Snyder universe the filmmaker was making over the years. This detachment from the past allows Blue Beetle to explore any tone that they like. Director Angel Manuel Soto took a familiar path, resorting the usual tricks of the ’80s and ’90s film and banked the film highly on emotions which worked in the film’s favour. Blue Beetle revolves around a 22-year-old Jaime (Xolo Maridueña) who comes across a dangerous beetle looking gadget. His family’s curiosity in the gadget results in Jaime turning into the host of the said beetle and his life takes a turn. Not only does this transformation put his family at risk but his love interest Jenny, played by Bruna Marquezine, under major threat. Jaime is forced to lock horns with Victoria Kord (Susan Sarandon) and Conrad Carapax (Raoul Trujillo). Whether he saves himself and his family or Victoria manages to extract the ‘Blue Beetle’ out of him is the crux of the film. Read more