Blue Beetle

Directed by Ángel Manuel Soto is this first DCEU outing for the Blue Beetle. Jamie Reyes (Xolo Maridueña) returns home from college to find life is turned upside down. His families business ruined and about to have their home taken from them for development by Kord Industries and their CEO Victoria (Susan Sarandon). Jamie finds himself working with his sister (Belissa Escobedo) at a hotel, where he meets Victoria’s niece Jenny (Bruna Marquezine). When Jenny offers Jamie a job he’s entrusted looking after a scarab. But when the scarab attaches itself to Jamie, he becomes the Blue Beetle and suddenly finds himself a superhero who, with the help of Jenny and his family, must stop Kord Industries from turning the scarab into a lethal weapon.

Blue Beetle is not a particularly original origins story, unwitting super hero, who loses someone close and finds love. It borrows heavily from Batman and Spiderman, with touches of Iron Man and Guardians of the Galaxy for good measure. But uses the influences well and has more going for it than against.

The strong latin influence adds a refreshing energy leaning on family and community. The action is fun and the script light. There are good enjoyable performances. Maridueña leads they way in the Titular role, but his family often steal the show Belissa Escobedo as his quick witted sister and especially George Lopez as his “creative” uncle. Most scene stealing comes from Adriana Barraza as a Nana who is never short of surprises.

The effects work well and their is an enjoyable 80’s influence in the older tech that is part of the story and a soundtrack to go with it.

The story is a bit disjointed at times and the script is often a little “on the nose” and it does descend into a bangy and crashy finale. But it gets away with it.

Blue Beetle while lacking in originality is still an enjoyable superhero adventure with more going for it than against. It has a bunch on entertaining performances, a bit of humour and a warm hearted core, all supported with a banging 80’s soundtrack. Not perfect, but enjoyable fun.