Despite a script that is absolutely cringy at times, wooden acting from co-star Bruna Marquezine and over-the-top to the point of almost stereotypical acting from George Lopez, and special effects that is spotty at points, Warner Bros. and DC Studios’ newest entry Blue Beetle is worth the AMC Theatres’ ticket price. And that is due to star Xolo Maridueña’s low-key and relatable performance as Jamie Reyes.
It’s this performance as well as the performances from Adriana Barraza as his grandmother and Damián Alcázar that helps Blue Beetle deliver an exhilarating, yet very familiar and formulaic journey of self-discovery and heroism. It’s a welcome palate cleanser after a series of mediocre and formulaic superhero flops including Black Adam, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Shazam! Fury of the Gods and The Flash.
In a frigid and distant icy landscape, the elusive Kord Industries has unearthed a remarkable artifact known as the Scarab. Meanwhile, Jaime Reyes, freshly returned to his hometown of Palmera City following his college graduation, receives a harsh reality check: his family’s residence is on the brink of foreclosure due to financial turmoil.
To make ends meet, Jaime and his sister Milagro (an annoying Belissa Escobedo) secure jobs at the opulent mansion of Victoria Kord (a doing it for the money Susan Sarandon), the CEO of Kord Industries. However, their employment is short-lived, as Jaime intervenes in a heated exchange between Victoria and her niece Jenny (Marquezine), leading to their abrupt dismissal.
A chance encounter sets the stage for Jaime’s extraordinary transformation. Jenny reaches out to him, urging a meeting at the Kord Tower to discuss a mysterious job proposition. The ensuing rendezvous propels Jaime into a whirlwind of intrigue and danger.
Jenny discloses that Victoria has been exploiting the Scarab’s power for her pet project, OMAC (One Man Army Corps). In a daring move, Jenny commandeers the Scarab and entrusts it to Jaime within a fast-food burger container. The moment Jaime comes into contact with the Scarab, his fate is irrevocably altered: the Scarab melds with him, creating an advanced armored suit that harnesses incredible capabilities.
As events unfold, Jaime and Jenny confront a series of challenges. They liberate Jenny from the clutches of Victoria’s military forces, while the Scarab—now identified as Khaji-Da—reveals itself to be a sentient weapon with a vested interest in Jaime as its chosen host.
Aided by Jaime’s resourceful uncle Rudy, the duo infiltrates Kord Tower to secure a vital artifact from Jenny’s father. Their mission is met with fierce resistance from Ignacio Carapax (Raoul Max Trujillo), a formidable bodyguard infused with an OMAC prototype.
Tensions escalate as Jaime faces off against Carapax, leading to a crucial turning point. Khaji-Da briefly seizes control of Jaime’s body, leading to a fierce confrontation between Khaji-Da and Carapax. Amidst the turmoil, the trio manages to escape and find refuge at Jenny’s childhood abode.
Jenny employs her father’s technology to unveil his secret lab, unearthing the truth about Ted’s dual identity as the former superhero Blue Beetle. Armed with newfound knowledge, Jaime emerges as the hero Palmera City desperately needs.
The tale crescendos as the Reyes family is trapped in a deadly plot. As Jaime’s father tragically succumbs to a heart attack, Jaime is ensnared by Carapax and transported to a stronghold in Cuba. There, he grapples with a monstrous OMAC suit and uncovers shocking revelations about his father’s legacy. With the help of Jenny and his family, Jaime stages a daring rescue mission, culminating in a climactic showdown against Carapax and a reckoning with Victoria.
Amidst explosive battles and gripping conflicts, Blue Beetle navigates themes of destiny, sacrifice, and empowerment. As the Reyes family emerges from the chaos, they find solace in unity and shared grief. Jenny assumes the helm of Kord Industries, pledging to mend the wreckage inflicted upon the Reyes family. In a bittersweet moment, Jaime and Jenny find solace in each other’s arms, while a cryptic recording from Ted hints at a truth yet to be unveiled.
REELated:
As enjoyable as the smaller family moments are, Blue Beetle is ultimately held down by dialogue which sounds like it was copied and pasted from Wikipedia for Bad Dialogue from Supervillain lines. For example, in the midst of battle, Jaime is told by Carpax that he “Doesn’t deserve the power!” Basically, something Megatron would yell at Optimus Prime.
Director Angel Manuel Soto tries to infuse Blue Beetle’s modest budget ($104 million) with commendable vigor, particularly in its action-packed sequences. The script penned by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer attempts to weave in nods to the character’s rich history, appealing to aficionados who can readily spot references like the iconic original costume.
The film boasts a handful of Marvelesque one-liners that add a touch of humor, but the relentless insertion of comedy into serious situations becomes wearisome and perplexing. This is particularly jarring when the characters continue to crack jokes mere moments after the death of a significant character.
The family dynamics are a missed opportunity for depth and resonance, as each family member is relegated to either serving as a source of comic relief or as a vessel for delivering exposition. This lack of depth resonates as a central issue in Blue Beetle.
The artificial intelligence within Jaime’s suit lacks any semblance of personality, operating as a mechanical and detached assistant until a sudden shift during the film’s climax. Susan Sarandon’s portrayal of Victoria embodies a caricatured and over-the-top villain, while Raoul Trujillo’s Carapax remains a one-dimensional, clunky metal figure who undergoes a superficial, last-minute redemption arc.
However, the film finds its true strength in its more intimate moments, revealing its limitations in light of the saturation of similar content fueled by streaming platforms. While the cultural nuances it incorporates are an advantage, they are somewhat sacrificed due to the film’s constrained format. Unlike the pacing afforded by episodic storytelling, the movie’s structure demands expedited transitions to the next battle scene.
The landscape of the entertainment industry has evolved since the success of 2019’s Shazam! which set a new benchmark for this genre. Blue Beetle aspires to ascend to great heights, but it stumbles on the challenge posed by heightened theatrical expectations.
As much as it sounds as if I didn’t like the film, I did ultimately and that rests solely on the shoulders of Maridueña. Let’s hope he gets a better script and effects next time.
BOTTOM LINE: As Jaime Reyes transforms from an ordinary young man into a formidable superhero, audiences are treated to a tale of courage, growth, and the enduring power of family bonds. Blue Beetle is a REEL SEE. Barely.
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The Geek is a working screenwriter, director and screenwriting instructor.
