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Blue Beetle (2023)

 


Blue Beetle is a niche comic book hero and this is his origin story adapted to fit the silver screen.

Blue Beetle is directed by Angel Manuel Soto, who has brought you hits like. *checks notes* Oh he hasn't really done anything worth seeing. I'm sure he would disagree with me but let me be frank: I take issue with both his direction and how he promoted the movie. The film could have used more time in the oven as the CGI isn't up to par. Many scenes felt they could have been cut and I wonder if it was his choice to intentionally steal scenes from other comic book movies. There are scenes taken straight from Iron Man, Spider-Man, and even Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. It doesn't seem like homage either.

There are two shining parts of the movie and those are Xolo Maridueña and Bruna Marquezine who have on-screen chemistry. They make the movie at least bearable to watch. Belissa Escobedo on the other hand couldn't help show her attraction towards Xolo despite being cast as his sister. This is probably Soto's fault for not catching it. She exudes contempt and is generally an insufferable girl boss. One out of four that is. That's right there are four girl boss characters who each have a chance to save the main character who happens to be a man. Feminist overtones are through the roof, four girl boss characters, two female CEOs, Grandma straight up murdering incompetent male soldiers, both male father figures are beta and one of them is a manchild with George Lopez. I know he was supposed to be the comic relief but most people in the audience didn't laugh at any of his quips including the hate for Batman which still confuses me. 

Susan Sarandon really phoned it in on this one. She delivers exposition and doesn't even attempt sinister emotion with mediocre writing. One of her worse performances and I loved her in Speed Racer.

The movie steals good scenes from other movies and doesn't add anything new to the comic book genre that you haven't already seen. Marquezine and Maridueña save the movie from being a complete disaster. The movie is just barely above Shazam! Fury of the Gods. Result: C-

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