It brings me so much joy to report that Blue Beetle is a massive win for DC. This movie has flown under the radar because the Blue Beetle character is not very well known by the general public, and it was also meant for Max originally and not a theatre release. Thanks to the directing prowess of Àngel Manuel Soto and a perfect cast, Blue Beetle is a great start to James Gunn’s DCU. 

The star of the show here is Xolo Maridueña as Blue Beetle. This young talent is already well known for his role as Miguel in Cobra Kai but his outstanding performance in this movie is sure to bolster him up to the A-list once it releases. Maridueña is perfectly cast and his performance as Jamie Reyes is funny, layered, and emotional. I’m so glad James Gunn made him the DCU’s first hero. The supporting cast, especially George Lopez and Bruna Marquezine, are standouts in this family-focused story.

Blue Beetle is also notable for giving us the first Latino superhero to lead a film and Soto nails it in this love letter to the Latino community and culture. I especially loved the scenes where the characters only spoke in Spanish as it really felt natural for the characters and tone of the film. Representation matters and I’m so happy that it can be showcased in a high-profile film such as this one.

Visually, the movie is well done. At a time when the CG in superhero films is constantly criticized, I’m extremely impressed with the quality of the CG in this film and how they utilized digital and practical effects for the Blue Beetle suit. It doesn’t look poorly done like another recent DC film. 

XOLO MARIDUEÑA as Blue Beetle in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure “BLUE BEETLE,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures/™ & © DC Comics.

The weak point of the film is undoubtedly Susan Sarandon’s character Victoria Kord. I’m a huge fan of Sarandon’s work but she feels out of place in this film in her very generic “greedy corporate executive” character. Her character is like a puzzle piece that has been stuffed into the wrong place and it’s a shame her talent was wasted here.

Blue Beetle is the best thing DC has put out this year and it’s not even close. It’s a well-made film in almost every area and Xolo Maridueña gives a star-making turn as Jamie Reyes. It’s a shame this film wasn’t marketed better because it deserves so much love. The future of DC is the brightest it’s been in a long time.