BLUE BEETLE
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Theatrical Release Date: August 18, 2023
Digital Release Date: September 26, 2023
Physical Media Release Date: 4K UHD, Blu-ray, DVD – October 31, 2023
Description: From Warner Bros. Pictures comes the feature film Blue Beetle, marking the DC Super Hero’s first time on the big screen. The film, directed by Angel Manuel Soto, stars Xolo Maridueña in the title role as well as his alter ego, Jaime Reyes.
Recent college grad Jaime Reyes returns home full of aspirations for his future, only to find that home is not quite as he left it. As he searches to find his purpose in the world, fate intervenes when Jaime unexpectedly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology: the Scarab. When the Scarab suddenly chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he is bestowed with an incredible suit of armor capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the Super Hero Blue Beetle.
Starring alongside Maridueña are Adriana Barraza, Damían Alcázar, Elpidia Carrillo, Bruna Marquezine, Raoul Max Trujillo, with Oscar winner Susan Sarandon, and George Lopez. The film also stars Belissa Escobedo and Harvey Guillén. Soto directs from a screenplay by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, based on characters from DC.
A Warner Bros. Pictures Presentation, a Safran Company Production, Blue Beetle soars into theaters only internationally beginning August 2023 and in North America August 18, 2023. It will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.
By James Harvey
A pleasant surprise, Blue Beetle stands as one of Warner Bros. Discovery and DC Comics’ strongest big-screen efforts in recent years. Despite sticking a little too closely to the standard superhero origin formula, the movie nevertheless leaves its mark thanks to genuine heart and humor, fun set pieces, and an unabashed embrace of family and Latino culture. An endearing spin on the standard superhero origin story, Blue Beetle is an earnest and impressive addition to DC Comics’ cinematic escapades.
Blue Beetle follows college grad Jaime Reyes as he returns home ready to tackle his future, only to find things are changing at the Reyes household. When Jaime unexpectedly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology called the Scarab, which chooses him to be its symbiotic host, he is bestowed with an incredible suit of armor capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers. Now, the Reyes family’s lives are forever changed as Jaime starts his journey as the heroic Blue Beetle!
Despite not exactly breaking the mold, Blue Beetle‘s celebration of family and culture is so refreshing that it’s hard to dismiss it as “just another superhero origin movie.” The film’s crucial family dynamic and strong Latino influence are not only overwhelmingly endearing, but are also central to Blue Beetle‘s plot, driving many of the film’s story and creative choices in ways that add some welcome flair to the expected tropes. Blue Beetle does hit a lot of the expected beats thanks to a fairly paint-by-numbers plot, but it still manages to leave a notable impression thanks to the filmmakers’ efforts.
To quickly note, recent executive and creative changes to DC Comics’ cinematic universe plans won’t be taken into account here. What matters is the movie itself and nothing else, especially not any external forces outside of its control.
Originally meant for release on the Max streaming service before landing a theatrical slot, Blue Beetle may lack the big names and budgets of Warner Bros. Discovery’s other recent live-action DC Comics efforts, but none of that really factors in here. Even with Blue Beetle‘s occasionally limited scope and budget, the creators still manage to carve out something memorable. While it covers a lot of familiar ground – and somewhat mashes together Spider-Man and Iron Man – writer Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer and director Ángel Manuel Soto keep things lively and entertaining.
Much like when Peter Parker gains the proportional strength of a spider, Jaime Reyes has a steep learning curve ahead of him after the scarab-shaped piece of alien tech fuses with his spine (in a very cool David Cronenberg-esque sequence). Xolo Maridueña is effortlessly likable and charming as Jaime, both in and out of costume, which helps immensely in getting through those familiar “training to be a superhero” scenes. Another major boost is that Jaime’s adorable family is with him every step of the way as he learns the ins and outs of his new abilities.
Jaime’s family not only grounds his story but also adds a key sense of representation and authenticity to Blue Beetle. An eclectic bunch, joining Jaime on his super-journey are his hard-working father Alberto (Damían Alcázar) and mother Rocío (Elpidia Carrillo), 17-year-old smart-mouth sister Milagro (Belissa Escobedo), scene-stealing conspiracy nut Uncle Rudy (George Lopez), and Alberto and Rudy’s mother Nana (Adriana Barraza), whose revolutionary past comes in handy (and produces some big laughs) when the forces of evil come calling. On top of being fun characters, every family member rings true.
Dunnet-Alcocer and Soto’s clear affection for the Reyes family also gives Blue Beetle the palpable stakes it needs to stand out among the abundance of superhero content available. Watching a heavily armed police force storm the Reyes home evokes real-life instances of immigrant persecution, ratcheting up the tension considerably. While the whole world is still in potential peril and all that, it’s the entire Reyes family and their fearlessness in standing up against their pursuers that will have viewers cheering. More of the Reyes family, please!
The decision to keep the family front and center, whereas most superhero movies tend to swerve the other way, ends up being the movie’s greatest strength time and again. And while it’s great that the central family dynamic is prioritized here, some other aspects of the film are unfortunately a little underserved, including the romance between Jaime and Jenny Kord (Bruna Marquezine) and the film’s big bads. Susan Surandon (yes, that Susan Surandon) clearly has fun playing the villainous (and pretty racist) Victoria Kord, but she’s not given enough time to really explore her character beyond the basics.
Kord is joined by her right-hand armored man Carapax (Raoul Max Trujillo), an unfortunate, tortured product of the controversial real-life School of the Americas, and put-upon scientist Dr. Sanchez (Harvey Guillén). Despite their characters’ limited development, both Trujillo and Guillén put in solid work and get to shine in a couple of big scenes.
Soto’s skillful directing keeps the movie fairly balanced, script blips aside. The pacing is brisk and energetic, but never to the point that it becomes an issue, with character-driven scenes thankfully allowed to breathe a little. These crucial moments not only build up Blue Beetle‘s heart, but also provide some of the movie’s most poignant scenes with the Reyes family (be prepared to tear up, too). Soto juggles the action beats, character work, and comedy without missing much of a step.
An unexpected benefit of the film’s mostly straightforward approach to Blue Beetle’s origin story is that it’s not bogged down by anything superfluous. There’s no callbacks to other movies, no set-ups for other characters and franchises, none of that. Blue Beetle‘s priorities are Jaime and the Reyes family, along with the history of the Blue Beetle and the Scarab, and not much else. It’s welcome and even feels a little retro (like pre-MCU) given the current bloated state of many big-screen superhero offerings.
It’s a simple story and, despite its predictability, the fact that it is just a simple, straightforward story is one of its biggest strengths. Blue Beetle is self-contained and tucked away in its own little corner (at least for the time being), and that’s for the best. After so many elaborate superhero films with increasingly complicated continuity, and the subsequent problems that come with it, it’s nice to get back to basics.
Also giving Blue Beetle a boost is the lively cinematography of Pawel Pogorzelski and the synth-inspired score by Bobby Krlic. The film’s special effects work is also pretty good for the most part, though they’re far from perfect. There are a few instances where they can be distractingly rickety, but given the recent visual effects work in other superhero projects, Blue Beetle looks no better or worse than most.
However, the actual Blue Beetle suit looks legitimately incredible from head to toe and sticks exceptionally close to the four-color source material, with a few tweaks here and there. It’s detailed and slick, never once looking bulky, awkward, or too busy. It’s a fantastic suit with a sleek design that is one of the best live-action interpretations of a comic book super-suit to date. Plus, as with the source material, Jaime is joined by the suit’s built-in artificial intelligence, Khaji Da (voiced by Becky G), who provides guidance (and some nice banter) as our young hero and his family learn the ins and outs of his burgeoning superhero status.
Ultimately, Blue Beetle should play well with younger viewers and comic fans, though casual audiences may question the need to see it. It doesn’t revamp the superhero concept or anything, admittedly, but it does remind us why these movies can be so effective. Jaime is a great protagonist, one who cares about his family and loved ones and wants to do right by them. And he even has a few family members who, through their own past experiences, would rightfully be considered heroes in their own right even without the shiny suits and flashy fights.
If you find yourself getting tired of stories that stretch across too many movies and multiversal stakes that are more flash than substance, Blue Beetle just might be what you’re looking for. It’s not a bad thing to go back to the basics every once in a while, and this movie proves that.
Blue Beetle may tell a familiar story, but its distinct perspective breathes new life into these old story beats. It’s genuinely entertaining, with a healthy mix of comedy, solid action, and heartfelt performances, all fueled by the filmmakers’ unabashed and affectionate approach to these characters. Blue Beetle doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but the Reyes family are so charming and the movie itself so enjoyable that it nevertheless ends up being a blast! Highly Recommended!
Images
Also Available:
“Blue Beetle – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” and “Blue Beetle”
Released on digital and physical media by WaterTower Music and Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment
Comics titles starring Blue Beetle, released by DC Comics
Blue Beetle Jaime Reyes also regularly appears in the following
DC Comics-based animated series
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