Blue Beetle is a 2023 superhero film based on the DC Comics character Jaime Reyes / Blue Beetle, produced by DC Studios and the Safran Company, and directed by Angel Manuel Soto from a screenplay by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer. It is the 14th film in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).

Mexican-American teenager Jaime Reyes gains superpowers when a mysterious scarab binds to his spine and provides him with a powerful suit of blue alien armor.

The cast includes Xolo Maridueña, Adriana Barraza, Damián Alcázar, Elpidia Carrillo, Bruna Marquezine, Raoul Max Trujillo, Susan Sarandon, and George Lopez.

Blue Beetle made its debut in theaters on August 18th, courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.

THE GOOD

I’m not even going to sit here and act like I knew Blue Beetle from a beetle in my yard before the film was announced, but I will admit that after watching the teaser trailer I was immediately intrigued. It sort of had the feel of 2018’s Bumblebee, a superhero action film that geared strongly toward the coming-of-age genre. DC continues to have a less-than-great track record, and most recently took a big financial hit earlier this year with The Flash (our full review here), which I thought was actually better than most people made it out to be although the CGI was definitely a bit whacky at times. So, was Blue Beetle as good as the trailers made it out to be or is this yet another miss for DC? Keep reading to find out!

First and foremost, I really enjoyed this movie and it is easily one of the better releases from DC in recent memory. This is definitely substance over style as the visual effects are fine but certainly won’t blow you away, more on that later, but Blue Beetle emphasizes the characters and the story to get viewers invested. I was also genuinely impressed by just how funny the movie was, getting quite a few laughs out of me pretty much throughout. Blue Beetle focuses more on developing the characters and getting viewers really invested than it does trying to wow with the spectacle of it all, and I feel like that is part of why it feels different compared to most superhero movies.

Instead of just creating a hero that can fight crime and save the world, Blue Beetle gives the power to a regular kid fresh out of college who above all else wants to protect his family. As someone from a big family who has dealt with our fair share of ups and downs over the years, I could feel the genuine and unrelenting will Reyes felt to protect his family. Blue Beetle is a feel-good coming-of-age story that isn’t afraid to touch on real-life problems. The film doesn’t dig too deep into the origin of the scarab which is likely intentional as a way to leave some meat on the bone for the follow-up film.

The story and the characters are without a doubt the calling card for Blue Beetle. Right from the start viewers will feel like they can relate to the Reyes family, and will find themselves caring for them on an emotional level pretty quickly as well. Jaime Reyes is incredibly likable, and his family dynamic is honestly what most of us wish we had which is a tight-knit family that sticks together no matter what. Although this is a superhero movie Blue Beetle touches on several serious issues including the struggle that many working-class families face when just trying to make ends meet, as well as the weight that comes with the loss of a loved one. I just loved how down-to-earth and real the film felt as far as the overall message, and you don’t need to be a fan of superhero movies to appreciate what was accomplished here.

I was impressed with the cast and thought everyone was good, some offering more value than others. I really liked Xolo Maridueña in the lead role of Jaime Reyes / Blue Beetle. Right from the jump his character felt likable and genuine, and he never came across as corny. My guy George Lopez absolutely stole the show in Blue Beetle though, providing the majority of the comic relief and just being his ridiculous self from the start. He had me laughing more times than I can count, and his character alone makes it easy for me to recommend this movie. He didn’t even need to say anything, just his appearance will make you laugh. Plus his obsession with his ridiculous truck was fantastic. But for as ridiculous and over-the-top as he was, Lopez also contributes a great deal to the emotional element of the film which just speaks to his range as an actor. I also liked Belissa Escobedo as Jaime’s sister Milagro, and I thought she did a nice job as the pessimistic character who deep down has one of the biggest hearts.

Brazilian actress Bruna Marquezine is absolutely gorgeous (obviously) and I thought she delivered a very solid performance and had great chemistry with Maridueña. Did I mention she was gorgeous? Seriously, get a poster of her and put it on your wall now, and grab me one while you’re at it. I really liked Damián Alcázar as Jaime’s well-intentioned and loving father. I absolutely loved Adriana Barraza as Nana Reyes, she is the sweet grandma that keeps the family together, and boy is she full of surprises. Google bad guy and you will likely come across a photo of Raoul Max Trujillo. This dude is a badass and for sure looked the part and was a heck of a force to be reckoned with for Reyes, and I really liked how things came together for his character. Harvey Guillén has been on a tear as of late, and although they didn’t give his character much to work with due to having such a small role, he was still really good. It feels weird to say it, but Susan Sarandon was one of my least favorite characters. I mean you are supposed to despise her, but I just felt like something was missing.

Blue Beetle offers plenty to be excited about on the technical side of things, mainly a banger of a soundtrack and some great cinematography thanks to a gorgeous shooting location in Puerto Rico. Similar to the culture of the characters, this film is fueled by the music and I loved every minute of it. The energy level was without a doubt ramped by by the soundtrack. I also have to give credit to director Angel Manuel Soto for some crafty camera work making sure viewers always felt like they were a part of the action. I also thought the primarily upbeat tone of the film really worked well. I also loved the look of the suit and thought the various weapons Reyes had at his disposal were pretty damn cool.

THE BAD

Blue Beetle did feel a bit slow at times but these moments were few and far between, my primary issue with the film were the visuals. Now with a superhero movie, especially one that is touted as being filmed for IMAX, you expect to be blown away. But as we have come to expect, the final product is very different depending on whether the intro screen reads Marvel or DC Comics. DC has had its fair share of struggles so I understand the reluctance to shell out too much money on the CGI for these films, and it is clear that with Blue Beetle, they certainly cut some corners.

Now I am just trying to prepare you because I promise it’s not that the visuals are bad, they are actually pretty damn cool, they just pale in comparison to the big-time Marvel blockbusters. As an example, when Reyes first becomes Blue Beetle he goes on this crazy fly around the city experience smashing into bridges etc and it just looks a bit cheesy at times. The part where he cuts a bus in half was legit I will say, and don’t worry that’s not a spoiler because it is in the trailer. Although IMAX would definitely still be a better viewing experience, I wouldn’t call Blue Beetle a must-see in IMAX.

THE VERDICT

Although it won’t blow you away with the visuals compared to what we’ve come to expect from the genre, Blue Beetle forges its own path with genuinely likable characters, a ton of quality laughs, and an impactful and heartfelt story emphasizing the importance of family. This is without question one of the better all-around DC films in recent memory. I do think they could have done more with a bigger budget, but I enjoyed this film and by the end, I definitely felt satisfied. I do hope box office numbers justify the great setup for a sequel, and if they can justify a bigger budget the next time around, the sky is the limit for the potential of the Blue Beetle franchise.

The bottom line, this is absolutely worth seeing in theaters, and when you make it over be sure to stick around for the mid-credits scene which will have you excited for what is to come. The film also has a post-credits scene but it doesn’t add anything.