Blue Beetle Review by Marc Primo

Ángel Manuel Soto, the director of "Charm City Kings," brings us a heartwarming and crowd-pleasing comic book film that stands out from the tonally dour mood of many contemporary superhero movies. This vibrant and colorful flick is a refreshing departure, offering a less serious yet equally captivating experience.

A torrent of love quickly flows when Jaime, a charming Xolo Maridueña, returns home from college to fictional Palmera City. Hugs, laughter, and genuine affection fill the initial scenes, painting a heartwarming picture. However, the Reyes family faces troubles: Jaime's father, Alberto, recently lost his auto shop business. Now, their cherished family home is at risk of repossession by Kord Industry. Despite his pre-law degree, Jaime struggles to find employment, leading him to join forces with his mischievous younger sister Milagro at a resort. Together, they navigate the challenges of a new chapter.

"Blue Beetle" explores economic disparity, focusing on imperialist powers. Despite Jaime's efforts to succeed by attending college, staying humble, and being kind, his impoverished background in Edge Keys hinders his prospects. However, when Jaime intervenes between philanthropist Jenny Kord (played by Bruna Marquezine) and her ruthless aunt Victoria, a glimmer of hope emerges. Although Victoria dismisses him, Jenny offers a job and requests a meeting at Kord headquarters the next day.

Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer's script takes a convenient route to accelerate the narrative. Jenny wants to steal a highly advanced blue scarab, while Victoria aims to exploit its power for creating super-soldiers. Jenny entrusts the scarab to Jaime, unaware of its true potential, for smuggling. Interestingly, Jenny never follows up on the scarab, despite having Jaime's contact information, until Jaime seeks her out. These events may seem chaotic, but they ultimately lead to Jaime becoming symbiotically connected to the scarab and acquiring a sleek blue suit with cutting-edge technology.

Some preliminary work is required: Jaime needs to learn how to control his new abilities, romance sparks, and origin stories unfold - common elements in comic books. However, these aspects are arguably the weakest parts of "Blue Beetle" as they are poorly expressed. Victoria's menace fails to come alive on the page; instead, Sarandon brings clever nuances and subtle quirks to the character, elevating this otherwise ordinary villain. Conrad, Victoria's grunting and stoic henchman portrayed by Raoul Max Trujillo, remains a formidable obstacle until Dunnet-Alcocer hastily inserts a complete backstory in the final ten minutes of the film. The chemistry between Jenny and Jaime is also lacking, partly due to Marquezine's tendency to overact, pushing her facial expressions to the limit.

However, these shortcomings don't diminish the strengths of "Blue Beetle." The script and actors skillfully incorporate culturally specific references to the superhero parody series "El Chapulín Colorado" and the telenovela "María Mercedes," injecting vitality and originality into the scenes (I couldn't contain my laughter at the Vicks Vapor Rub joke). The film also daringly addresses political issues, alluding to the School of the Americas, a complex topic rarely explored in big-budget films, and portraying a harrowing raid on the Reyes home that humanizes endangered immigrant families despite the somewhat exaggerated use of slow motion. These subplots add depth and nuance to the story.

Although the action sequences may not be extraordinary, they have a lively quality thanks to the infectiously entertaining cast. Adriana Barraza ("Babel") stands out with her punchlines, while George Lopez brings elasticity to his role as Uncle Rudy, the conspiracy theorist. With animated pratfalls and funny one-liners, he adds an extra layer of hilarity to the film.

In the opening of "Blue Beetle," the line "Love for family weakens you" suggests a twist that challenges this idea. Soto's superhero film cleverly emphasizes family strength, enhancing the cinematic experience. While "Blue Beetle" doesn't revolutionize the genre, it defies expectations.