Filled with intense action sequences, exciting characters, comedy and thrills, the film Blue Beetle takes over the big screens at theaters everywhere. The storyline isn’t very complicated making the film easy to follow without a lot of side stories to mess up the plot. It’s directed right at the pre-teen to older teen audience with a sci-fi base attraction as well. Adults may get antsy, especially the males who are ardent Marvel fans who “have seen it all”, but a quarter of the way through they will start to enjoy all the action that’s superbly displayed throughout the rest of the movie.
Returning from his graduation at a far off college, Jaime Reyes is greeted at the airport by his dad, mom, sister and nana who excited to see the first college graduate of the family. Thinking he has the world by the tail, Jaime tells his folks that he will be able to get a very important job and be able to support the family. However, theylive in a rundown house in a small village far away across the water from the majestic city of Lo Palmera, The bustling LoPalmera is run by the Ted Kord syndicate who are on the precipice of making a super military force that will give them complete rule of country and beyond.
Jaime’s first job is a maintenance worker at hotel in Lo Palmera and not what he expected. But his sister Milagro convinces him that at least it’s a start and he goes along with her. There however, he bumps into Jennifer Kord part owner of Kord Enterprises, and due to the circumstances involving that first meeting, she invites him to her office. While there Jamie finds himself coming into contact with a Scarab (an ancient beetle). So begins an adventure that’s out of his control.
The film, while entertaining to the target audience mentioned above, works itself into a rather silly plot with Jaime learning how to use his new powers, trying to save his family and vice versa. Director Angel Manuel Soto even seems to lose control of his film making it unnecessarily long and drawn out. That said I do love the characters especially Uncle Rudy who is an inventor and family protector, Nana a strong willed grandmother who takes matters into her own hands, and Milagro the only level headed family member of the group.
Blue Beetle has been rated PG-13 by the MPAA for sequences of action and violence, language and some suggestive references. The audience that’s served best is mature pre-teens to 18 that like adventure thrillers and maybe play a lot of video games. For this group my star rating is 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Xolo Mariduena, Bruna Marquezine, Damian Alcazar, George Lopez, Adriana Barraza, Bellssa Escobedo, Susan Sarandon, Paul Max Trujillo
Directed by: Angel Manuel Soto
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sequences of action and violence, language and some suggestive references
Running Time: 2 hr. 7 min.
Opening Date: August 19, 2023
Distributed by: Warner Bros.
Released in: Theaters
