Jaime Reyes returns home from graduating college to find his life beginning to crumble. From his father’s health deteriorating to the eminent threat of losing his childhood home. From that things find themselves on the road to the Blue Beetle. Now it is up to him to truly embrace the powers of the beetle while trying to protect his family. All the while holding on to the truth that family is the true strength of his power.
DC’s Blue Beetle stars Cobra Kai’s Xolo Mariduena, who uses his Dojo moves adequately in this latest film. He also, like his previous role, finds his footing as he goes from awkward to exceptional as he becomes one with the beetle. We even get to see some dojo moves which he perfected in this action packed movie.
The film in a whole has a lot of elements of other superhero movies. It follows the same comedic charm as The Flash combined with a more sentimental feeling as the Spiderman story. Though Blue Beetle does stand out as its own as it fully embraces the idea of family especially by not hiding the truth from them. It also uses dual language as Jaime and his family synchronistically fuses both Spanish and English to show the multigenerational family. Additionally, because his family knows the truth, we see his family coming to his rescue quite a few times with cool gadgets from the original Beetle.
That being said, the cast also includes, George Lopez, as Uncle Rudy, who like normal, fully embraces the comic era. Also Hocus Pocus 2 star, Belissa Escobedo has her own comedic timing, as the little sister with her own sense of fight charm.
Lastly, no superhero film would be complete without a villain and a love interest and Blue Beetle doesn’t disappoint in this. The ironic thing is the villain and love interest are connected in a family way as well. When Jenny Kord (Bruna Marquezine) discovers her wicked Aunt’s (Susan Sarandon) secret to turn her father’s company into a military weapon, using her father’s beetle, Jenny takes matters in her own hands. This ultimately sets the beetle up for its new home, so to speak.
All in all, Blue Beetle is the perfect action packed movie to finish up the summer as kids go back to school. It has everything one could hope to see in a DC movie. Great story, heartfelt scenes and ultimately good triumphing over evil in true DC standard. Blue Beetle opened August 17 and is is currently playing in a theater near you.