DC superhero films are knocked a lot more than Marvel. Yet they can be just as derivative as Marvel, and this is a prime example. Surprisingly though, it had enough heart and humor that it kept me entertained for a couple hours. The movie is filled with charm and love for the Mexican culture of the protagonist and his family.
Jaime Reyes (Xolo Mariduena from “Cobra Kai”) has graduated from college, and on his happy return, finds his father has had a heart attack and their working-class family has lost their house. The family consists of loving father Alberto (Damian Alcazar) who is always positive. Mother Rocio (Elpidia Carrillo), who is always smiling, sister Milagro is the snarky teen. There’s a nana (Adriana Barraza) with a secret, that’s a bit of fun when it’s revealed in the third act. The wacky, conspiracy theory, government-fearing uncle Rudy (George Lopez), is a mixed bag. Sometimes he’s funny, but there’s just a bit too much of him (but hey, I’m one of the few people that thought Seinfeld gave us a bit too much of Kramer).
After the brother and sister lose their job as cleaners for the Kord corporation (because they run afoul of the evil CEO Victoria Kord, played by Susan Sarandon), her niece Jenny (Bruna Marquezine) offers to give Jaime another job with the corporation. When he shows up for the job interview, she’s in the process of fleeing. She’s stolen a blue scarab beetle that has some powers her aunt wants to use for evil. She hands it off to Jaime, and hijinks ensue!
When the beetle latches on to Jaime’s face like something out of “Alien” he grows an exoskeletal suit that makes ya think of Iron Man. Now the Kord Corporation is after him.
The early word I heard about this film was that it was made for HBO Max and not theatrical release, and that it was low-budget (as far as superhero film budgets go). There were times the graphics felt like an early ‘90s flick (even the way the title was written, felt like the font for “Purple Rain”).
And sure, some of the special effects weren’t great. But, I’ve been bored for years by superhero fight scenes, despite how great the CGI may be. I can only watch people being thrown through buildings and cars so many times. And because of that, I enjoyed the first half a lot more than the second half.
Usually, when a video game is turned into a movie, I miss the easter eggs that the gamers know. In this, there are nods to Mexican culture that some won’t get (for example, the grandmother is an acting legend in Mexico, and some of the things seen on TV got laughs from the Latinos in the crowd, but they were shows I wasn’t familiar with).
Since the movie is family friendly, they kept things relatively clean. At one point, the voice in Jaime’s head (much like the “Venom” character), mentions blood going to his mid-section upon a kiss. I thought a better joke would’ve been about blue balls. And when he immediately shoots up into the air after the kiss, I thought he should have told her, “That doesn’t usually happen.”
But I’m not here to re-write the script but to tell you whether or not you should see it. I don’t think anybody going to this will be disappointed. It’s a fun way to spend a few hours in an air-conditioned movie theater.
2 ½ stars out of 5.