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It never should have taken this long. The first live action Latino superhero movie. It all seems like a cake walk, comic book and superhero films dominate the theaters. Hispanic ticket holders make up 29% of the purchases. There was no excuse, and yet BLUE BEETLE is the first of its kind that even while being made still had the chance to be seen at a limited but pricey cost. BLUE BEETLE directed by Angel Manuel Soto was originally meant to debut exclusively on HBO MAX before online fury and behind the scenes chaos decided to bring it out onto the big screen as well as be the first film somewhat opening up the new DC Universe helmed by James Gunn and Peter Safran. Large shoes to fill for a film about a little powerful bug. BLUE BEETLE however doesn’t just live up to the task, it becomes a success itself that does not need the aid of other cape flying men or wonder women. While there may be a sense of familiarity throughout BEETLE is a much needed throwback to when superhero movies were silly, full of heart and all strengthen by moments less about flying suits, but real human connection and family. The film is also so beautifully unapologetically Latino that this (Latin) critic couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride throughout. Over the years there have been several comic book films that have raised the voices of those who have not always seen themselves in the suit (Black Panther, Into the Spider-Verse, Wonder Woman and Birds of Prey), and BLUE BEETLE gets to proudly add itself to that list. Here is a film that does want to remind others our stories matter, but just as much so wants to be involved in everything and treated as equals. And while it can compete with its co-members you can’t help but notice it still finds a way to stand above.

Jaime Reyes (Xolo Maridueña) has just graduated college. A time that would be exciting being the first of his family to do so if it were not for the mountains of debt he will be in for years to come. But it is hard to be fully upset when he is welcomed back home to Palmera City by his loving family which includes his sister Milagro (Belissa Escobedo) his mother and father (Elpidia Carrillo and Damián Alcázar respectively) his Nana (Adriana Barraza) and his erratic conspiracy loving Uncle Rudy (George Lopez). Jaime’s city is changing however, gentrification at every corner the city is quickly moving into a futuristic metropolis pushing out the backbone of its city out. “They wanted us out and now they want our side too,” proclaims Milagro in one of the films hard hitting realizations on the way the world views Hispanics and many other minority groups. While life is constantly hitting the Reyes family they never back down. The films strongest feat is its incredible cast that makes up the Reyes and the love and humor they throw at one another. Behind the scenes there is such a clear sense of love for Latino family and culture that many watching will feel right at home as they playfully sing “Maria la del Barrio,” or as Uncle Rudy spills out his beliefs on how the government listens in on their every movement while fixing up his supercharged pickup. Lopez is a real standout here reminding so many of the film’s millennial viewers why waking up to the George Lopez show every morning was a treat in itself. Hell his character itself feels like a “what if” scenario if Angie divorced his ass and forced him to move back home. But all this plays into the love Jaime gets from both his parents especially from his Alberto who is quite ill and penniless but never lets that stop him from being a leader for his family all and neighborhood. Manuel Soto’s film (with a script from Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer) want to have their superhero fun but that is not before they show us that Jaime’s love for his family is what will keep him going.

But this is a superhero film after all and with that most come a villain, or in this case corporation. And while the evil businessman (or woman) has been done before Susan Sarandon’s Victoria Kord is larger than her evil war machine making empire. Kord a racist herself, sees the people, and especially Hispanics as disposable. Her unwillingness to learn their names, her ability to fire them on the spot all while being featured in her company’s “Youth Minority program” as she holds the hands of young Black and Brown children smile in sight and painful reminder to the audience that as cartoony as she gets these people exist every day. Jaime finds himself in the midst of Kord after he is given a small what appears to be plastic scarab from Kord’s niece Jenny Kord (Bruna Marquezine) after she steals it from the building in hopes of protecting her deceased father’s legacy. It isn’t long until Jaime and his entire family discover what the scarab really is as it latches on to Jaime and takes over his entire body building blue armor around his skin in a scene that resembles more body horror than it does Iron Man trying on a new suit. The film somewhat rushes through the “get to know the suit” tropes of these movies and instead settles for a learning along the way which is more apt for a boy Jaime’s age. But with great powerful suit comes a greater and more powerful enemy. Victoria Kord’s own right hand man Carapax (Raoul Max Trujillo) may be a deadly opponent to Jaime, but he is another example of how so many Hispanics are treated as numbers and as long as they get the job done they can be kept around. Trujillo is a wonderful performer as Carapax never being just a large wall for Jaime to punch through, but a raw broken human that while physically may be more machine than man he is still holding onto every last bit of human emotion and connection he can find. This is a film that will surprise many in the darker routes it takes (and will thankfully teach some) especially when involving Carapax and the infamous School of the Americas that tragically destroyed so many lives in the name of fake democracy. And while many young people today have probably never heard of School of the Americas the film allows for an important jumping off point for a history lesson so many American class rooms have never even discussed. A system so destructive that it could turn any child into a villain against their will. I applaud the filmmakers for not shying away from this reality and tying it into their villains especially Victoria Kord’s abuse of Carapax making her even more of a monster than many can imagine. This also allows the film to not just be hero against the corporate machine, but rather centuries of mistreatment towards Jaime’s family and those like him.

For all its darkness BLUE BEETLE never stops being a ton of big screen fun. Its sad to think that studio heads once believed this would look better on the small screen than in a theater. The entire film is vibrant from Jaime’s very blue suit (carrying great visual effects) whose fighting style matches those of the fun filled days of “Power Rangers” and even “¡Mucha Lucha!”, and all the way to its 80’s esque synth score from Bobby Krlic (aka The Haxan Cloak). Not to mention the tons of pop cultural references to Latino culture both old and new. Walking into a big budget American studio film the last thing you expect is for “El Chapulín Colorado” to be the basis of a running gag. A joke that will work for so many who grew up in Latino homes and will hopefully be a fun learning experience for those unfamiliar. If nothing else the film will carry a hysterical after taste of the thought of so many young children asking their parents what even was that red suited bee man. Or hell even a quick appearance from “Cronos” and “Macario” was not on your BLUE BEETLE bingo sheet but damn is it exciting to see Latin love from Latin filmmakers.

All of this is raised though by its star in the making Xolo Maridueña who owns every time he or his voice is on screen. A young talent already making out thanks to the excellent “Cobra Kai” series, Maridueña is able to carry a needed confidence that is also held back by the world constantly showing him he is not welcomed. As a performer Maridueña doesn’t just win you over he immediately makes you want to go on the next adventure with him. Here is a hero so many have been waiting for and thankfully one worth looking up to. There may be the usual beats of learning to be a true hero and trying to win over the girl (his chemistry with Marquezine is sweet but slight) but again here is a hero not just rooted in his over victories but ones he shares with his family. So many superhero films, hell just coming of age films in general, deal with the wanting to escape to a better world. Well Jaime never sees it that way. This world is not just his, but the loving family who have stuck it out good and bad. Not everyone comes from a family like this understandably, but Manuel Soto and the entire Reyes cast want us to know that there are so many out there that look like the Reyes family that are fighting every day for one another. Family love is their real superpower and it has only gotten stronger ready for the next fight.

A-

BLUE BEETLE IS PLAYING IN THEATERS EVERYWHERE