After a spate of box-office disappointments like Shazam! Fury of the Gods and The Flash, fans of DC Comics finally have something to cheer about. With Blue Beetle, filmmaker Ángel Manuel Soto introduces a new superhero, of Latin origin, and underlines the message that it’s all about loving your family.
The plot follows Jaime Reyes (Xolo Maridueña) as he returns to his fictional hometown, Palmera City, equipped with a degree. There’s some bad news: his parents, Rocio (Elpidia Carrillo) and Alberto (Damían Alcázar), have had to shut down their auto shop because of aggressive gentrification by Kord Industries, a tech conglomerate notorious for engineering global conflicts. The force behind this operation is Victoria Kord (Susan Sarandon), a commanding figure with a thirst for power.
Jaime crosses paths with Jenny Kord (Bruna Marquezine), Victoria’s niece, who helps him with his job search, and his life takes a dramatic turn when she gives him a blue scarab, an alien biotechnological marvel. This artefact, when activated, imbues Jaime with an extraordinary suit and a range of remarkable abilities.
Blue Beetle draws inspiration from Spider-Man comics, subjecting Jaime to a series of trials as he grapples with his newfound powers. From accidentally bisecting a bus to embarking on a space adventure, Jaime's journey of self-discovery is punctuated by the voice of Khaji-Da (Becky G), the sentient entity within the scarab, offering guidance through his strange new reality.
Maridueña shines in the scenes where his character goes through the challenges of becoming a superhero, showing both his strengths and vulnerabilities. As Jaime’s world unravels and Victoria relentlessly pursues him to claim the alien technology within him, the stakes go higher.
Sarandon makes for a compelling antagonist. Described by Milagro (Belissa Escobedo), Jaime's sister, as “alluring in a Cruella Kardashian-esque manner”, Victoria's sinister objective involves utilising the scarab to construct an army of enhanced soldiers. This plan is executed with the help of her enigmatic enforcer, Carapax (Raoul Max Trujillo).
Supported by his close-knit family, Jaime confronts Victoria's schemes without a secret identity. His grandmother (Oscar nominee Adriana Barraza) exhibits surprising prowess with heavy weaponry, his quick-witted sister offers comedic relief, and Uncle Rudy (a standout performance by George Lopez) assumes the role of a fast-talking, conspiracy theorist mentor.
Blue Beetle could very well be DC's equivalent of what Black Panther and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings proved to be for Marvel. It marks a significant step in terms of Latino representation on screen as Jaime's story is deeply rooted in his family's cultural heritage.
With screenwriter Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, Soto takes on issues of racism and anti-immigrant sentiments. The film acknowledges the characters' anti-imperialist origins and uses news clips to illustrate the environmental devastation faced by Latin American nations to fuel the ambitions of imperialists. But Soto manages to avoid being didactic and complements the film’s darker moments with humour.
As the DC universe undergoes significant changes, including shifts in leadership and the portrayal of iconic characters like Superman, fans can expect further exploration of Jaime's story in the forthcoming reboot of the DCEU.
