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| Images courtesy Disney/Lucasfilm |
Star Wars is finally back in cinemas this week with the continuation of the Mandalorian and Grogu storyline. The film, which plays like an extended episode of the Disney+ series, is a breakaway in the galaxy far, far away that doesn't expand on the lore, but instead spends its entire run time jumping from action sequence to action sequence allowing the characters to play in an ever-expanding galactic sandbox. No Tatooine needed.
If anything, The Mandalorian and Grogu is an escapist bit of fun that really doesn't require any knowledge of the three seasons of the streaming series. It's set apart from where we left off as Mando and his little green companion bounty hunt for remnants of the Empire with mixed success.
Many Star Wars fans (if we can even call them that anymore) will take issue with the simplistic plot and abandonment of any carry over. Other viewers will fully enjoy the simple fact that the characters finally made their jump to the big screen. The biggest gripe that should be made about this film is that many of the computer-generated characters look antiquated and lacking realistic detail. It's shocking that after all this time, Lucasfilm could still not get it right. They are apparently the kings of that domain. On the other hand, the fight scenes and action deliver a one-two punch that was needed for the saga as a whole. Where we were stuck in a quagmire of repetition with the sequel trilogy, this is a fresh spin that has that magical Favreau touch.
The Mandalorian and Grogu finds even footing as Mr. Favreau takes hard strides to remember how Star Wars began. The original 1977 film was meant to be reminiscent of old school serials like Flash Gordon with his obvious riffs on Kurosawa. Favreau fully understands the assignment and never lets up, jumping from planet to planet, and from action set piece to even bigger scenarios where Mando and Grogu find plenty of trouble. In turn, the movie is unrelenting other than a much-needed dynamic break before the third act.
Now that the Skywalker saga is fully concluded and Kathleen Kennedy is no longer at the helm, Star Wars definitely needs to be righted. The ship has been off course for quite some time. With films like Solo: A Star Wars Story turning in nearly disastrous box office numbers, it seemed like this latest project should have been a sure fire hit for Disney and its acquired brand. Unfortunately, it's been far too-long and interest has seriously waned since season 3 of The Mandalorian premiered in 2023. Fans are fickle bitches. And this movie will ultimately pay the price.
The Mandalorian and Grogu is a rock-solid flick that gives us tons of throwbacks, a slew of new droids and creatures, a bevy of new planets, and some great humor care of a quad of Anzellans and their tiny spaceship. And each time Sigourney Weaver shows up, the film becomes better. Even with her limited screen time, she uplifts the material by adding a certain semblance of class to a movie that's mostly populated by digital characters. And come on, even Martin Scorsese has a part in this one. And he rocks it.
If you want to get outside the Star Wars comfort zone and are tired of worrying about Palpatine returning again, The Mandalorian and Grogu is a nice change of pace as the summer movie season kicks off. If you enjoyed Solo, you will surely love this one too.
-CG