If you have been yearning for the Star Wars franchise just to have fun again, “The Mandalorian and Grogu” might just be what you have been hoping for. As a continuation of the first three seasons of the hit Disney+ series, Star Wars’ return to the big screen was an action-packed, fun story.
The movie takes viewers around the Star Wars galaxy as Mando hunts for an Imperial Warlord…and upsets some familiar species along the way. It has that side-quest-adventure feel that fans grew to know and love, especially during the first season of the show. For the first hour of the movie, it is nearly constant action. At times, it feels like “Thor: Ragnarok,” moments later, like Top Gun, then like classic Star Wars. The pace slows down for a period in the middle of the film, but it stays entertaining. Overall, I felt like a kid again watching most of this movie. If you’re a fan of big fights and fun action that make Star Wars what it is, you’ll have a blast watching this movie.
At times, it felt like it was a bit all over the place. With several storylines overlapping, it can be a little much at times. Similarly, it felt like another season of the show wrapped into one film. However, I don’t necessarily think that is all a bad thing. “The Mandalorian” was a fun show, but at times I really felt like it dragged. In a film that runs just over two hours, it eliminates that drag. Going into the movie, I had hoped for something action-packed and fun, but I also wished for some connection to the main storyline. I felt like the film lacked this connection. Understanding where these characters fit in the overall story, and the direction they are headed, has yet to be answered through essentially three seasons and one movie. But, this doesn’t take away from the story that this movie was. At its core, it serves as a fun, standalone story in the Star Wars timeline.
Although I have been fairly critical of Disney’s handling of the franchise, the one thing they have done well is the visual appeal of these movies. On the big screen, this movie looks fantastic. I watched this one in Dolby, and I highly recommend watching it in Dolby or IMAX. Several scenes, including the introductory fight scene, are some of the most visually appealing Star Wars fight scenes I have ever watched. Maybe Dolby helped with this, but still, it looked magical. The expansion of the screen during several fight scenes was fascinating. The visuals are paired with a soundtrack from three-time Oscar-winning Ludwig Göransson that I loved. The soundtrack is difficult to describe. It felt distinct from anything else in the Star Wars universe, almost electronic at points, but whatever it was, it worked.
Kids will LOVE this movie. Grogu (and his friends) captivate audiences as predicted. The story is fairly easy to follow. For the younger ones who may be seeing a Star Wars film in theaters for the first time, this is a great introduction to the universe. As a kid, I was captivated by the constant action, awesome fight scenes, and just overall fun these movies had. “The Mandalorian and Grogu” is just that.
“The Mandalorian and Grogu” is a fun return to the big screen for the Star Wars universe. Some have been critical of the film and its lack of depth and lack of purpose, but if you love fun, you’ll enjoy this. When faced with watching in theaters or waiting until it hits Disney+, I say, go to the cinema. If possible, watch in a premium format too.
Leave a Reply