Director: Angel Manuel Soto
Starring: Xolo Maridueña, Bruna Marquezine, Adriana Barraza, Damián Alcázar, Raoul Max Trujillo, Susan Sarandon, George Lopez  
Certificate: 12A
Run Time: 127 mins

Blue Beetle is the third of four entries in the DCEU this year as it dwindles down prior to James Gunn’s relaunched DCU and is the only film in the quartet to not be a sequel. Directed by Angel Manuel Soto, Blue Beetle is an origin story of the Mexican superhero, effectively a suit with a wide array of armaments.

Jaime Reyes (Xolo Maridueña) returns from Gotham Law school to the fictional Palmera City to  discover his tight-knit family are at danger of losing their home in an increasingly gentrified area. Kord Industries, co-founded by Victoria Kord (Susan Sarandon) effectively rule the city, with Victoria on the hunt for an ancient alien artefact known as the Scarab, so she can develop her own range of law enforcers. Her niece, Jenny (Bruna Marquezine) doesn’t believe in her nefarious intentions and Jaime, who takes a shine to her and is entrusted with keeping the Scarab safe, ends up getting fused with the artefact transforming him into an armoured exoskeleton. Think a Latin-infused Iron Man meets Ant-Man equivalent. When Victoria learns that Jaime has the Scarab, it’s safe to say she wants its out of him and will go to depraved depths to achieve her goal. 

Blue Beetle is a pleasant surprise and by far and away its biggest asset is the amiable family dynamic which although affectionate, is fiercely positive. The characters are generally very well developed and by the half way point when there is a pivotal moment in the narrative, it’s safe to say we’ve really come to care for them. Angel Manuel Soto’s film feels like a fusion of Iron Man, Ant-Man, Spy Kids and Coco and he does a great job of making Palmera City seem like a real place, with its Miami-esque new town juxtaposed against the suburbs that are undergoing gentrification, signifying an economic inequality. The film does a great job of showing you the mansions and the neighbourhood Jaime lives in, and it feels like an actual Central or South American city.  

There’s some thrilling action sequences too with believable CGI, an achievementcompared to the poor visual effects in The Flash or last year’s Black Adam. Although there is a final act battle, I appreciated the film didn’t outstay its welcome, a common problem that plagues a number of superhero films. 

Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer’s script sometimes resorts to cliche but I appreciated the links to present day Latin politics, such as when Jaime’s younger sister, Milagro (Belissa Escobedo) remarks they are invisible to Sarandon’s villain. These lines didn’t feel shoehorned in.

Xolo Maridueña is very charismatic as Jaime, a young adult trying to carve a way for themselves who doesn’t know how to stand out. George Lopez also stands out as Rudy, Jaime’s Uncle, and the comedian brings an excellent level of cynicism and eccentricity. Although Bruna Marquezine initially serves as an expository machine, once her character is absorbed into the Reyes family, she also shines and shares a palpable chemistry with Maridueña. 

It’s just a shame the film is let down by a poor villain. Although Sarandon turns in a nasty performance, the script doesn’t really delve into her psyche. The film could also have been a little edgier, such as incorporating the body horror and resulting sense of disgust of being fused with a foreign entity. 

On the plus side, Bobby Krlic’s score is excellent and he crafts some memorable themes. I was really excited to see how Hereditary and Beau is Afraid cinematographer Pawel Pogorlezski would lens the film. Although the cinematography isn’t quite as innovative as I was hoping it would be. I appreciated him holding onto shots a little longer than is standard

Although it’s not going to set the superhero genre alight, I appreciated Blue Beetle’supbeat energy and it manages to stand out in a crowded genre. The characters are well developed and easy to root for, with the film supported by a class commentary of what it’s like to grow up in a Latin American family. I hope Gunn integrates these characters into the relaunched DCU as it would be a shame to chuck away this film’s good work. 

⭐⭐⭐ (Good)