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The latest from D.C. and a pair of canine-themed films all dropped this weekend and I have my take on all of them below. As always, if you want to keep up with all the films I’m watching, follow me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734.

Blue Beetle (Theaters)
Starring: Xolo Maridueña, Bruna Marquezine, Damián Alcázar, Belissa Escobedo, Adriana Barraza, Susan Sarandon, and George Lopez
Synopsis: The latest from the world of D.C. is an introduction to the Blue Beetle. In the film, Jaime (Mariduena) is a recent college graduate who returns home to discover his family is in turmoil. While at a job with his sister (Escobedo), things go wrong. But he is offered a second chance by Jenny Kord (Marquezine), whose father used to run Kord industries before it went to her aunt (Sarandon). When Jaime goes to meet Jenny to get a job, she gives him a package to hold. Inside it is something that changes his life forever. The DC universe is in the midst of a makeover. There are projects in theaters now that hold a connection to the previous iteration and there are plans to build a new version. The question is how Blue Beetle will fit, and it’s a question that we’ll likely have to wait some time to see an answer. For now, it’s a new character and a new world that doesn’t hold a connection to the iconic characters—Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman—we’ve seen the past few years. I was drawn into the story, and I enjoyed the performances here. This had a strong emotional current and I enjoyed the way this film was put together. There’s a good blend of action and humor, and the three central characters played by Mariduena, Marquezine and Escobedo are a lot of fun. I’d like to see more from this world.
Rating: Rated PG-13 for sequences of action and violence, language, and some suggestive references.
Verdict: Three and a half stars out of five

Puppy Love (VOD/Freevee)
Starring: Lucy Hale, Grant Gustin and Nore Davis
Synopsis: In the latest romantic comedy, Max (Gustin) is something of a shut in who never fully re-joined the world after COVID. He is also recovering from a difficult relationship. Nicole (Hale) has been closed off emotionally since her father’s death, and it’s prevented her from getting a real relationship. When both of them get dogs to help get over their issues, it brings them together. Surprisingly, they find a connection that might help each of them move forward in a healthy way. This film from MGM released on VOD but it also available to stream on Freevee from Prime Video. I wasn’t sure what to expect but this one came together in a delightful way. There are some hilarious sequences and Gustin and Hale have good chemistry in the lead roles. I really enjoyed the overall flow of the film and the way the story plays out. For those looking for a good romantic comedy, this one hit the spot.
Rating: Rated R for frequent strong language, sexual references, drinking, and smoking.
Verdict: Three stars out of five

Strays (Theaters)
Starring: Will Ferrell, Jamie Foxx, Randall Park, Isla Fisher, and Will Forte
Synopsis: The latest comedy is a wild one. It focuses on Reggie (Ferrell) a dog whose owner Doug (Forte) isn’t the greatest. He attempts to ditch Reggie, driving him hours away and leaving him in the city. There, Reggie encounters other dogs, Bug (Foxx), Hunter (Park) and Maggie (Fisher), who help him to realize that Doug wasn’t a good owner. Together, the four make a plan to travel back to Doug’s house to deprive him of his favorite appendage—his penis. If the description didn’t convey it, this is a hard-R rated film. There’s plenty of language, wild sequences and a story that goes over-the-top at times. The humor derives from the situations and the over-the-top nature of the story. The voice performances are solid, and the film doesn’t overstay its welcome, clocking in around 90 minutes. It’s also not incredibly deep and it’s often quite crass. It works for a certain kind of humor, but this isn’t a film that has broad appeal. I had hoped it would be funnier, but there are some sequences that work well.
Rating: Rated R for pervasive language, crude and sexual content, and drug use.
Verdict: Two and a half stars out of five

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