The new movie, directed by Angel Manuel Soto, focuses on the third character to don the mantle of Blue Beetle: Jaime Reyes. In the film, Jaimie (Xolo Mariduena) stumbles on a mysterious device known as the Scarab which gives him a suit of armor with otherworldly abilities. With the help of Jenny Kord (Bruna Marquezine) and his uncle Rudy (George Lopez), Jaimie must uncover the secrets behind the suit before Victoria Kord (Susan Sarandon) can find Jaimie and take the Scarab for herself. Initially the movie was meant to be an original film for the streaming service Max (or HBO Max at the time), but the powers that be decided to give the new superhero movie a theatrical release. Another wrinkle was added to the DC Film as it would take place in the shared continuum known as the DCU; though it would have little connection to any upcoming project. While he is not on the level as characters like Batman or Flash, Blue Beetle (both Kord and Reyes) have become favorites of mine, so I was hopeful to see how the film would handle the character’s legacy. The result was a superhero film that was as simplistic as one could be.

Superhero origins are a dime and a dozen, so bringing something new to the genre is easier said than done. In the case of Blue Beetle, the DC film is more of the same in case of origins. The story of Jaime was enjoyable, but it did not leave much to the imagination regarding its storytelling. Some aspects like Jaime connecting with the suit were interesting, but I felt the movie did not go far enough with these ideas. This is not to say the plot had nothing to offer as it featured a few impressive merits such as its use of themes like family. This aspect was able to ground the story and connect all the players in a compelling manner; and along with the lore surrounding the scarab and the Blue Beetle the plot was more than acceptable-despite its wavering execution.

If there was one take away from the movie it was Xolo Mariduena as Jaimie Reyes. When the actor was cast in the movie, I thought it was a perfect choice for the young hero and he did not disappoint. While the character could have fleshed out certain areas, Jaimie was an engaging protagonist who fit the role of a superhero perfectly. The rest of the cast, on the other hand, was rather hit or miss. Jaimie’s family had their moments particularly Jaimie’s father (Damien Alcazar) who had terrific scenes with the young lead. Other members like Jamie’s sister Milagro (Belissa Escobedo) and Rudy were solid in certain areas, but they could also be excessive in their delivery. As for Jenny Kord Bruna did alight in the role, but the character was rather boring in her direction and did not leave the greatest of impressions. The same thing could be said about the villains. Victoria was as typical of a villain as one could get while Carapax (Raoul Max Trujillo) was an interesting antagonist but needed more time to develop. Rounding the cast was surprisingly Ted Kord. True the character does not appear in the movie, but there was enough surrounding Ted that made this missing addition a character oozing with potential.

As spectacles go, Blue Beetle was tame but effective in its delivery. The visuals were impressive, especially when creating the suit and its abilities; while the cinematography was colorful which felt appropriate for the film’s concept. Yet a surprising factor for the superhero film was the action. While the blockbuster being an action-packed experience was to be expected, I was taken aback about how inventive and exhilarating this aspect ended up being. Another surprise was the score by Bobby Krlic. The music was fitting for both the film’s themes and main character as it was a riveting score that brought a vibrant flare to this hero story.

In an age of superhero films, Blue Beetle does fits mold of a standard entry in the genre. While its main character and action were impressive to be sure, the film was hindered by its delivery which prevented aspects like the story from truly flourishing. Yet despite its issues, the film’s simplicity was in some ways refreshing as it brought the superhero genre back to basics as and did not feel pressured in establishing a larger franchise. While I was not blown away by Blue Beetle, I still appreciate what the movie set out to accomplish, and I hope that this will not be the last time we see this DC hero in the world of film.