The progression of DC superheroes depends usually on the aspect of perspective of what kind of persona it implies. "Blue Beetle", at least envisioned as he was in animated form, was more of a goofy, more Deadpool-spun (but PG rated) pop culture referencer who skewed a little younger but cooler. In reinventing the approach here, director Angel Manuel Soto has created a different universe but one that in and of itself has its own unique energy.

While Hardy and Venom in their scenes are brilliant (despite not using motion capture), it doesn't translate at all to the overall thrust of the movie which is too bad considering who he is going up against in Woody Harrelson as serial killer Celtus Kasady.