Blue Beetle: Preserving A Superhero’s Legacy One Predictable Cheap Laugh at a Time

By John Kirk

Rating: B

Back in the 80s, the wise-cracking Blue Beetle was one of a few characters DC took over the rights to when they absorbed Charlton Comics. They were somewhat problematic and difficult to fit into the DC continuum.

Along with a cavalcade of others (the Peacemaker, Captain Atom, Judo Master), the Blue Beetle with his billionaire background, crazy array of hi-tech gadgets, and a vehicle shaped like a bug (it actually was called the Bug) seemed very similar to another, decidedly unfunny superhero in the DC stable.

Can you guess who?

DC needed a way to distinguish the Blue Beetle from the Batman. While Bruce Wayne’s Batman had the same sort of background, he was also ruthless and grim. Ted Kord’s Blue Beetle was jovial, kind-hearted, and probably the most popular of the Charlton line-up and became one of the most well-liked heroes in the 1980s.

Known for a sense of humor dominated by poor taste, the Blue Beetle was that unlikeliest of successful superheroes: a happy, joking one who was a hero out of the goodness of his heart. He actually coined the phrase: bwa-hah-hah-hah.

Then he was killed off by a gunshot wound to the head; a simple, brutal, ignominious, and controversial death that still resonates in the hearts of comic readers to this day.

His replacement, a fancier, alien tech, streamlined, full 80s neon-lit colour schemed Blue Beetle. The young Hispanic Jaime Reyes was not just meant to replace Ted Kord, but to redefine the character to make it separate from the 1960s leftover character from the Charlton acquisition. In short, it was a statement that cemented the DC brand on the superhero, minus the jokes.

This is the Blue Beetle the Warner Brothers film is based on. Directed by Manuel Angel Soto, the film leans heavily on the young Jaime Reyes (Xolo Mariduena) from a working-class family and just out of college.

Jamie learns that his mother (Elpidia Carillo) and father (Damian Alcazar) are about to lose their home. He and his sister, Milagro (Belissa Escobedo) actually lose their jobs after witnessing an argument between wealthy entrepreneur Victoria Kord (Susan Sarandon) and her niece Jenny (Bruna Marquezine), and Jaime follows up on a loose promise from Jenny to replace a job.

When Jenny discovers that her aunt is twisting her missing father’s (Ted Kord) company into a weapons manufacturer, she mixes Jaime up in a struggle for her company and the piece of alien technology known as the Scarab that transforms Jaime and gives him superpowers.

There’s a heavy emphasis on humour in this story. With comedian George Lopez playing the role of Jaime’s Uncle Rudy, there’s an expectation of it. However, the humour is at times misplaced next to some of the dramatic events that occur in the film. The haste to include humour rushes the story and compromises the drama. While it can be understood that the need to include the humor as possibly a nod to fans of the former Blue Beetle, it comes across as clumsy and lampoonish. Also, the humour isn’t this Blue Beetle’s. It’s from the supporting family members.

Yet, while it’s misplaced, it does attract some endearment. The appeal of the togetherness of the working-class family is a strong one and still manages to strike notes of resonance with the audience. The film succeeds on this basis.

What also works is the homage to the original Blue Beetle, Ted Kord. While this character isn’t included in the story, his origin is. Without going into any detail, this is something that comic fans will pick up on. Though they will only represent a segment of the audience, it’s still something that will be noticed.

There’s also a strong 1980s vibe in this film. The colour scheme is very 1986, with neon greens, blues and pinks standing out in the scenery and the lettering. The music is very reminiscent of horror director John Carpenter’s music synthesizer tones and the audience can’t help but recognize popular tracks from the era like Air Supply’s “All Out of Love.” Maybe this is another nod to those 1980s comic fans who first read the character back then, but regardless, it all serves to create a definite and recognizable backdrop for the original Blue Beetle.

What doesn’t work is Sarandon’s cardboard performance of the villainous aunt who has misappropriated her missing brother’s company to create a weapon based on the alien scarab known as the OMAC, another familiar comic element that fans will recognize. Sarandon’s presents a stereotypically boring master-villain complete with stock lines like “Its power will be ours.” If there’s anything disappointing about this film, it’s that.

A dependence on subtitles is also distracting but necessary if you don’t speak Spanish.

There are other formulaic elements of the film that can easily be expected. For instance, the ease that a working-class family from the barrio seemingly demonstrates when using advanced technology. The love interest between Jaime and Jenny and the obvious underdog theme of the haves versus the have-nots. All of these are expected but tired and obvious.

Oh, be sure to stay to the end of the credits to see the inserts that do add extra value to the film.

While Reyes’ Blue Beetle isn’t as endearing as Ted Kord’s, the movie still finds its audience. The music and cheap jokes that are substituted for where meaningful dialogue could have been more successful still manage to carry the film. In short, the cheap laughs worked.

Blue Beetle. Directed by Angel Manuel Soto. Starring Xolo Mariduena, Bruna Marquezine, George Lopez, Belissa Escobedo, Raoul Trujillo, Harvey Guillen, Elpidia Carillo, Damian Alcazar, and Susan Sarandon. In theaters August 18.