Nearly 7 years after Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hit theaters in December 2019 to a mixed reception, the franchise has returned to the big screen with The Mandalorian and Grogu, released on May 22. The movie follows the first three seasons of the Disney Plus series The Mandalorian, offering up a galactic adventure involving the rescue of Rotta the Hut, a character not seen since 2008’s poorly received Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie.
The film was directed by Jon Favreau, the acclaimed filmmaker behind such hits as Elf and Iron Man, as well as The Mandalorian show. He said of the movie, “Part of what we’re setting out to do is to have something that rewards people who have been with the show since the beginning, been with Star Wars since the beginning.”
The standout aspect of the film is definitely the incredible score by Ludwig Goransson. Through mixing modern, technical beats with classic orchestral music, Goransson immediately gives the film an incredibly unique and standout nature that separates it from other modern blockbusters.
Special effects also make the movie stand out, with many impressive new aliens adding to an already creatively rich galaxy of creatures. The practical Grogu puppet also continues to impress audiences, adding a sense of authenticity. HHS sophomore Walter Drews said, “I really like all of the practical characters, they’ve always made the movies feel cooler and definitely helped make this one better.”
While the practical effects and amazing score certainly make The Mandalorian and Grogu entertaining, the movie certainly lacks substance. Not one character receives an ounce of development or change, and no greater theme is presented beyond the strong father-son bond that the titular Mandalorian and Grogu share. The movie rarely goes past the surface level dramatically, making for an action heavy, albeit entertaining, galactic romp.
Many online have also criticized the movie for feeling like a few episodes of the tv show strung together, but this criticism actually speaks to a larger problem with the Star Wars franchise as a whole. HHS student Rex Chen says, “I remember new Star Wars stuff used to be so special, and now with all the new shows it doesn’t feel as magical anymore.” Since their purchase of Lucasfilm in 2012, Disney has certainly saturated the Star Wars brand, releasing 6 movies and 11 shows while they have controlled the franchise. This sentiment is reflected in The Mandalorian and Grogu’s box office, having the lowest global and domestic opening of any Star Wars movie.
Although The Mandalorian and Grogu certainly suffers from a somewhat soulless narrative and a general tired attitude towards the overall franchise, the movie is certainly still very well worth checking out because of its focus on exciting action spectacles, cool characters, and vivacious musical score. The movie will certainly provide any theater goer with a fun night out and a return to one of the most beloved franchises in the world.
