¡Blue Beetle Es Requetebueno!

EDITOR’S NOTE: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, films like Blue Beetle might not exist.

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Blue Beetle is the kind of comic book movie anyone can enjoy. This thrilling adventure full of heart and humor delivers positive messages, none of which arrive like a chancla to the head. Yet, perhaps most importantly, Blue Beetle sticks to its strengths throughout, offering a tight narrative and dazzling effects.

The film is based on a DC comic book character. Three heroes have carried the Blue Beetle moniker since 1939, each with their own look and abilities. The movie focuses on the latest incarnation, Jaime Reyes, while managing to include past variations. These aren’t always mere easter eggs. Rather, they flesh out the story and themes such as how powers don’t make a person a hero.

Blue Beetle revolves around Jaime Reyes and his family. They live in Palerma City, a fictional metropolis in the Florida Keys. Desperate for a way to help his struggling family, Jaime becomes entangled with Jenny Kord. Through her he encounters a piece of alien technology known as the scarab. When this biomechanical device attaches to him it forms a symbiotic exosuit. Determined to use the scarab for her own nefarious goals, the villainous Victoria Kord will stop at nothing to tear it from Jaime’s body. To protect not only himself but the ones he loves, young Reyes must become the Blue Beetle.

At this point, comic book adaptations fall into a spectrum between two extremes. There are gritty adventures set in gloomy cities where dour brooding heroes battle relentless psychopaths while trying not to drown in nihilism. Then there are the colorful comedic tales of heroic individuals doing the right thing regardless of the difficulty, whose real superpowers seem to be unflappable optimism. Fortunately, Blue Beetle slants heavily towards the latter.

It looks like a colorful comic come to life. Vibrant scenes call to mind the work of DC artists like Neal Adams or Phil Jimenez. At risk of sounding sarcastic, cinematographer Pawel Pogorzelski is better known for fabulous work on horror films like Hereditary (2018), and Blue Beetle may have been a welcome change of pace. Furthermore, humor peppers plot and dialogue alike which keeps things light. There’s never a reason to take things seriously. That certainly helps suspend disbelief — just enjoy the ride.

But don’t be mistaken, Blue Beetle has serious moments. Some which will tug at the heart of anyone who isn’t dead inside. Once or twice, I found myself verklempt. For instance, there’s an interaction between Damián Alcázar and Xolo Maridueña as father and son that’s touching without getting cloying. Even better, it sets up emotional stakes for later.

That ability to make audiences care about characters is a solid aspect of Blue Beetle. The whole Reyes family is not only likable, but when in danger, no one wants to see them suffer. It’s easy to root for Jaime rushing to the rescue as well as feel the sting of failure when things turn grim.

Though that said, Blue Beetle never slips into bleakness. The pessimism which has saturated so many comic book adaptations isn’t present here. While things aren’t always sunshine and roses, the tone focuses on finding a way back to the light. Blue Beetle isn’t a film about someone heroically carrying the weight of misery like a depressed Hercules, so much as it is about finding the strength to stay above despondency.

Helping realize that atmosphere is a wonderful cast, especially the Reyes family. Xolo Maridueña, who cut his teeth on the popular Netflix series Cobra Kai, fits the role of a young person in over their head, but makes Jaime believably determined to do the right thing. Belissa Escobedo as his sarcastic sister Milagro provides perfect comic relief as well as some blunt dialogue that keeps the plot moving quickly. Damián Alcázar is an endearing hardworking father who only wants the best for his family and never steers towards a dismal outlook. Elpidia Carrillo is a wonderful mother, although her Rocio Reyes knows when to bite. George Lopez does great as cooky Uncle Rudy, and finally, Adriana Barraza is the abuela we all wish we had.

Rounding out the cast is Raoul Max Trujillo. Perhaps better known for his work on Mayans M.C., he plays the relentless enforcer Conrad Carapax with a touch of quiet tragedy. Bruna Marquezine as Jenny Kord ably conveys a wealthy altruist longing for a family. Harvey Guillén is in the film and by the end, audiences will cheer when he makes clear his name isn’t Sanchez.

The weakest link in the chain carrying Blue Beetle is Susan Sarandon as Victoria Kord. She does well whenever acting like the smug head of a corporation. However, anytime she needs to be sinister it’s clear she couldn’t make ice stay cold. That makes it hard to believe she commands ruthless legions let alone the vicious, indestructible Carapax.

Thematically, Blue Beetle touches on some heavy topics. Although it never dwells on anything long enough to feel preachy, the film deserves points for bringing them up: gentrification, racism, and Hispanic representation are obvious and well handled. Meanwhile, the topic of The School of the Americas serves as tragic backstory at one point, but since the film seems to expect viewers to already be aware of the problematic institution, the greater point may be lost on audiences unfamiliar with the atrocities it produced.

This stems from another minor imperfection in Blue Beetle. The breezy narrative penned by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer never stumbles or loses its pace; however, it sometimes hits points without fully realizing them. The romance between Jaime and Jenny, for instance, feels more like fulfilling a cliché than a realistic outcome of their relationship. Still, director Angel Manuel Soto steers a steady ship, capturing dazzling action to distract from such minor shortcomings.

Overall, Blue Beetle is a colorful, heartwarming adventure. Moments of seriousness enhance rather than hinder the optimism it evokes. A wonderful cast avoids bleakness with charm and humor. Easily one of the best DC comic book adaptations.