{"id":35869,"date":"2023-08-17T12:50:58","date_gmt":"2023-08-17T10:50:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1874711"},"modified":"2023-08-17T17:54:09","modified_gmt":"2023-08-17T15:54:09","slug":"blue-beetle-review-snappy-unapologetically-silly-but-predictable","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/blue-beetle-review-snappy-unapologetically-silly-but-predictable\/","title":{"rendered":"Blue Beetle review: Snappy, unapologetically silly but predictable"},"content":{"rendered":"

There’s an authenticity to the portrayal of a Latino family in the new superhero flick, but many of the narrative beats will feel familiar. <\/p>

By Dave Golder\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 17 August 2023 at 10:50 AM<\/p>

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<\/div> 3.0 out of 5 star rating<\/span> <\/span> <\/div> <\/div>

The Blue Beetle<\/a>\u2019s been around in various incarnations since 1939, but he\u2019s far from one of DC\u2019s A-list superheroes. He barely even scrapes into the B(eetle)-list.<\/p>\n

So, in an increasingly overcrowded cinematic superhero market, he seriously needs a unique selling point to capture the audience\u2019s imagination. DC<\/a>\u2018s answer is to focus on the character\u2019s Latino connections.<\/p>\n

College graduate Jaime Reyes (Xolo Maridue\u00f1a) returns home to find things have taken a bad turn for his Mexican family. His dad\u2019s had a heart attack after having lost his business, and they\u2019re being forced from their home.<\/p>\n

The cause of all their ills is evil mega tech corporation Kord Industries, run by the soulless Victoria Kord (Susan Sarandon), which has the authorities of Palmera City in its pocket.<\/p>\n

The Reyes family\u2019s fortunes change, though, when Jaime bonds with a sentient alien scarab device that Kord is using to power a new line of cyborg super soldiers. This gives him the ability to grow an insect-like supersuit with a range of awesome superpowers.<\/p>\n

But with it comes three problems: the suit has an uncontrollable AI with a mind of its own; Kord will stop at nothing to get the scarab back; and he ruins his favourite trainers every time he transforms.<\/p>

So Jaime joins forces with Victoria\u2019s rebellious niece, Jenny Kord (Bruna Marquezine), to find a way to separate Jaime from the alien scarab. But Jenny\u2019s dead dad \u2013 and former Kord boss \u2013 has a few skeletons in his Batcave.<\/p>\n

The result is a snappy, funny, unapologetically silly superhero romp with a lot of heart, that puts the whole Reyes family at the centre of the action. Even their Nana. In fact, especially their Nana \u2013 there are times when it looks like she\u2019s touting for her own Supergran spin-off. It\u2019s certainly a pleasant change not to have the young hero hiding their secret identity.<\/p>\n

Warners hired Puerto Rican director \u00c1ngel Manuel Soto and Mexican screenwriter Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer to craft the film, and the authenticity they bring to the project pays dividends.<\/p>\n

The Reyeses, collectively, are by far the best thing about the film. They have all the best lines. They deliver the best surprises. You really care about them. And they give the film a spark and flavour that it\u2019s sorely missing in most other departments.<\/p>\n

Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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