Metacritic reviews

Tucked safely away from most of the cinematic universe shenanigans, Blue Beetle is a self-contained and smartly crafted film that ranks among the DCEU’s very best. Even though, admittedly, that doesn’t say nearly as much as it ought to.

Blue Beetle is so singularly fresh and fun that Jaime Reyes and his family deserve to be front and center of whatever comes next.

Despite its missteps, Blue Beetle remains a good time at the theater. Amid the action and the comedy, its emotional core resonates with the experience of growing up in a Latine family. The film is comedic without being cheesy and, hopefully, a massive launchpad for Maridueña’s career.

While the movie excels in family dynamics and character development, the visual effects and portrayal of the Kord family as villains fall short. Nonetheless, Blue Beetle is a charming depiction of functional family bonds and a promising introduction to a live-action DC superhero.

There may be bolder DC superhero movies, but despite that body-horrific transformation, Blue Beetle sure is the nicest one in a while.

Blue Beetle brings a breath of fresh air to DC with its focus on smaller stakes and family dynamics, standing out just enough from other superhero films.

It’s the cohesiveness among the cast members playing Jaime’s family that lends their performances both authenticity and relatability.

Blue Beetle owes a lot to the sheer wit and warmth of its supporting cast, which will earn it far more approval than its so-so CG antics and origin-story familiarity.

Sarandon is, sad to say, not the best thing in a film that only occasionally rises above the anarchic mediocrity we expect from the DC Extended Universe.

The Reyes family is a fun group, and “Blue Beetle” is at its best whenever it lets them lead the way.