REVIEW: ‘Blue Beetle’ is another below average DC outing

“Blue Beetle” was originally slated for a streaming release but was pushed into theaters. All things considered, maybe it should have stayed on the small screen.

Xolo Mariduena stars as Jaime Reyes in the film. A recent college graduate, Jaime returns to his home in Palmera City only to learn that his family’s house is on the brink of repossession. Wanting to help his parents, he looks for work, but only manages to get a cleaning gig at a mansion despite his degree.

That is where meets Jenny Kord (Bruno Marquezine), the niece of the woman (Suasan Sarandon) who runs a large military tech company. The main focus of the company is the Scarab, an alien technology giving the user an advanced armor. Knowing the dangerous implications of the tech, Jenny removes it from the Kord facility and entrusts it to Jaime.

“Blue Beetle” comes across like a film that would have been really enjoyable… had it come out in maybe 2003. It’s like watching a hodgepodge of every super hero origin trope from the last 20 years be shoved together, the result being a film that appears dated and stale.

It’s rather unfortunate, too, because the Blue Beetle is a concept with a lot of potential. The main protagonist is likable, the idea of a post-grad hero is a good one, and the Scarab armor makes for a cool looking figure to follow. The execution, though, feels so simplified.

It’s somewhat reminiscent of the 2010 “Green Lantern” film. That was another movie with great source material including an interesting protagonist with an awesome power set that was squandered because of it being shoved on a generic track.

To be fair, the film does have a few advantages, such as being a superhero movie with Latino representation in the lead roles. Another plus is the film ties in its lore to another, older version of the Blue Beetle from the comic source material.

Most importantly, the film earns points for a few scenes capturing a fun family dynamic. Admittedly, the whole “power of family” theme does get to be a bit much later in the picture. But in terms of Jaime just interacting with the family, whether it’s seeking advice from his father, shooting the breeze with his sister, or bantering with his wild uncle, it works well.

Outside of the family, though, things are a little rough. Marquezine does provide some passion in her performance, yet the material she’s given as Jenny keeps her squarely in the stereotypical love interest lane.

Sarandon, meanwhile, seemed to be completely phoning it in as the film’s big bad. The actress gives such little energy as the primary antagonist, rarely providing the character more personality beyond the average rich, war profiteering  villain. Speaking of which, her turn as the corporate baddie does little to enhance the already thin political commentary.

An audience can at least appreciate the action, though, as “Blue Beetle” has several exciting set pieces. Those scenes are only enhanced by the alien armor that provides Jaime everything from energy blasters to a sword straight out of the “Final Fantasy” games. It provides for legitimate entertainment.

However, one wishes that more background was given about the Scarab. Jaime, and the audience for that matter, learn little more about the Scarab beyond the surface. It’s disappointing as the armor’s built-in AI system had the chance to be a good pseudo sidekick.

“Blue Beetle” does have some strengths. There are moments of good action and the family dynamic is fun. Yet the movie as a whole feels so assembly-line produced that it ends up being a below-average experience from start to finish. 2.5 out of 5.