Blue Beetle is a superhero movie about the origin of the titular hero Jaime Reyes(Xolo Maridueña). After graduating college Jamie returns to his home town of Palmera City to find work. After a run-in with nefarious billionaire Victoria Kord(Susan Sarandon) and her niece Jenny(Bruna Marquezine) Jamie befriends Jenny and comes into contact with an alien artifact that gives him powers.
Maridueña is charming and affable as the lead but its his family that really steals the show- Belissa Escobedo as Milagro, Adriana Barraza as Nana, George Lopez as Uncle Rudy- the family dynamic and their more casual times together are the best parts of the movie. The rest of the supporting cast is all solid and its a treat to see it full of Latinx actors the plot machinations with Sarandon are less successful not because of her performance but because that aspect of the movie is pretty stereotypical superhero and at this point we've seen too many variations on the origin story.
Visually bright, lots of neon and a fair amount of practical effects make for a good look with a catchy soundtrack the production has some life to it, its not stupendous but its certainly a cut-above the average superhero fodder in terms of its look, its energy, and its cast even if the plot itself is derivative.
An entertaining if never quite surprising diversion.
Currently streaming on Max.
Rent It.
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