DC’s Blue Beetle movie is a whole lot of fun. With a heavy focus on the intimate life of Jaime Reyes and his family, it is packed with heart and action.
Blue Beetle might be a lesser known DC character, but that is about to change. Jaime Reyes (played by Xolo Maridueña) stars in his own movie, which hits theaters on August 11th, and it is easy to immediately fall in love with him. His moral values and love for his family make him a great role model for viewers, and the down to Earth, intimate feel of this film makes it one of DC’s recent best.
Note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Blue Beetle would not exist without the labor of the writers and actors in both unions.
This movie is an origin story, and trust me when I tell you that I know these don’t always work. They often struggle with finding their footing. It is hard to walk to line of sharing enough for viewers who know nothing about the character, while not diving too much into the background for those that do. Blue Beetle walks this line perfectly, and while it is certainly not a perfect movie, it is a lot of fun. One can only hope that Xolo will be sticking around in the role after James Gunn’s DC reboot.
Think of Blue Beetle as DC’s Iron Man, in a way. He has a pretty sweet suit that can do all sorts of things. It isn’t exactly an A.I., but rather an alien species, however it gives off A.I. vibes as it talks to him and takes direction from him. Anything that Jaime can think of, he can make happen — think Green Lantern. Sure, I know we should never compare superheroes, but it is really hard not to… especially in this case.
In regards to this film itself, you do not need to know anything about Blue Beetle to understand it. The writing does a great job of giving just enough background of the character, while also focusing on his story and journey through this movie. Xolo is perfect for the part, and does a great job bringing a likability to the role. Something we have seen him do in the past with Cobra Kai. He is a sweet kid, but it was a bit alarming to see him as a college graduate. He just seems so much younger than that. Still, if you can get past that, you will forget about his supposed age quickly.
Susan Sarandon as a comic book villain is not something I ever knew I needed. But I did. And it was amazing. She is a great actress and I loved seeing her playing the bad guy here. As with most comic book villains, she sits in a grey area at times, which is something she pulls off perfectly.
George Lopez is the surprise standout for me. I know he is funny but he really provided a lot of the comedy, especially when Jaime’s family is the main focus. He is the quirky Uncle and it is impossible not to love him as a character.
As with any superhero movie, there is quite a bit of action. It doesn’t all look flawless, but there are some really cool shots that work well. And even when the visuals are a bit wonky, it is easily forgiven because the choreography is what steals the show.
Overall Thoughts
After watching it, it is clear why Blue Beetle was moved from a streaming only release to a theatrical one. This movie deserves to be seen on the big screen. There are a few issues such as wonky CGI, and a few underused characters, but overall this is a great introduction to Jaime Reyes.
Blue Beetle is filled with comedy, heart, family values, action, and lovable characters. Not knowing if he will stick around for James Gunn’s DC reboot is the main thing holding this movie back.
Still, it is incredible to see Hispanic representation on screen. There are moments where a member of the Reyes family slips into speaking Spanish — and there are no subtitles. Audiences can infer what they are saying, but to Spanish-speakers watching, this must mean the world to them.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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About Blue Beetle
Jaime Reyes suddenly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology called the Scarab. When the 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.
Blue Beetle hits theaters on August 18th.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She is also a Freelance Writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.