Whenever I watch a DC movie, I always have to prepare myself by lowering my expectations for the visual effects. It’s just an automatic response at this point. But I was surprised and, I’ll admit, delighted by the special effects of the latest DC film, Blue Beetle.
The CGI didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this film. I didn’t roll my eyes with a “here we go again” attitude. It was a feeling I hope is duplicated in future DC films — but I am not holding my breath.
James Gunn has described Blue Beetle as the first real DCU character. It’s a new age for DC superheroes, as we’ve learned from new studio heads Gunn and Peter Safran this past year. Blue Beetle is another long-standing DC superhero many fans don’t know much about. I believe Blue Beetle has the makings of an excellent film for the DC Universe. Hopefully, a deep dive into Blue Beetle and Jaime Reyes will spark fans to go forth and support this film, forgetting about the lackluster year for superhero films overall.
Blue Beetle is an entertaining film that can and has been described as “unapologetically Latino.” The film is written by Mexican-born Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, directed by Puerto Rican-born Ángel Manuel Soto, and stars a host of Latin American actors.
Black Girl Nerds has talked about how important it is to have diverse people in front of and behind the camera and have diverse languages spoken on screen. For two hours and seven minutes, I was transported to the fictional Palmera City with genuine minority issues. Conversations about lack of opportunity and gentrification abound. The family dynamics in the film created a strong bond with the audience.
Familismo is a central Latin cultural value. It involves closeness and interconnectedness among family members, dedication, a sense of family obligation, respect for elders, commitment, and loyalty. One noticeable difference Blue Beetle has amid the piles of comic book films is that Jaime Reyes doesn’t hide his alter ego from his family. They know he’s a superhero from day one. This dynamic instantly changes some of the superhero tropes.
Blue Beetle stars Xolo Maridueña as Jaime Reyes/Blue Beetle alongside Elpidia Carrillo, Belissa Escobedo, Adriana Barraza, Damián Alcázar, and George Lopez as members of the Reyes family. After Jaime graduates from college, he returns to his hometown of Palmera City only to find out his family isn’t doing very well financially. Committed to doing his part, he looks for a job to help bring in money.
In a standard meet-cute, Jaime connects with Jenny Kord (Bruna Marquezine), who offers to find him a job. Drama ensues. Jaime suddenly finds himself possessing an ancient Scarab, alien biotechnology that grants him a suit of armor with superhuman powers. He is chosen to become a symbiotic host.
Becky G voices Khaji-Da, the entity that imbues and controls the Scarab. Victoria Kord (Susan Sarandon) wants the Scarab for her company’s technology to make advanced weapons. She enlists her henchmen, played by Harvey Guillén and Raoul Max Trujillo, to do all they can to get the Scarab from Jaime.
Where my attention was diverted from this fun, family-driven flick was the pace and choppiness of the dialogue. The filmmaker may have attempted to keep the Spanish clear and slower-paced for the non-speakers. It took me out of the flow of the movie at times. The action was so engaging and well-paced that the dialogue, even in high-stress situations, was uneven.
I was also unimpressed with Victoria Kord, played by the usually skillful and always stunning Sarandon. As a villain, the character fell flat. Her backstory and motive were quickly brushed aside. In some ways, her cruelty was scary good, but it left Sarandon’s performance lacking any emotion. Compared to all the other characters who had big energy and “10 out of 10 would recommend” emotions, Sarandon was noticeably weak in those departments.
The creative team behind this new superhero film includes director of photography Pawel Pogorzelski, who did a fantastic job on films like Midsommar and Hereditary, editor Craig Alpert, who was great behind the scenes of Deadpool 2 and The Lost City, and costume designer Mayes C. Rubeo from Jojo Rabbit and the Thor films. All provided great moments in Blue Beetle. A special shoutout goes to the music department and composer Bobby Krlic (Midsommar). The songs in this film were fantastic. Music helps set the mood and lead the viewer. Every piece did just that. It was the first thing I wanted to discuss after watching the movie.
Blue Beetle does a great job showcasing the vulnerability and bravery of its main character. It also boosts a strong family identity that brings laughs, tears, and an authentic connection with the story. This superhero film powerfully conveys that all stories need to be told and authentic.
Blue Beetle is scheduled to be released in theaters in the United States on August 18, 2023, by Warner Bros. Pictures.
