Every single Star Wars theatrical release in franchise history opens with the iconic starry screen and the simple text, “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.” Even the spinoff movies, Solo: A Star Wars Story and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, despite not having the mainline saga’s yellow crawl text, included the same opening phrase. With Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, that all changes.
There was a single screen that gives the setup to The Mandalorian and Grogu, and then a cold open into the first scene. As director Jon Favreau and writers Dave Filoni and Noah Kloor, made Star Wars history, they also signaled something important— an identity shift in what makes a movie Star Wars.
Jon Favreau’s The Mandalorian and Grogu starts with Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu traveling together as bounty hunters for The New Republic on a mission to capture or eliminate remnants of the Galactic Empire. Without feeling absurd, the now-iconic theme song from The Mandalorian, mixed with Mando’s tactical precision being put on full display, made the entire opening scene feel epic. It had truly earned its place on the big screen.
Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu returns to the magic that made season one a favorite.
For what it’s worth, The Mandalorian and Grogu was a true return to what made the first season of the television show so magical. Every scene was built with the idea that the most important dynamic in this movie was the relationship between Mando and his foundling. In the way that the first season of The Mandalorian focused on their new relationship, the film spent a lot of time showing you that Din Djarin does his best to be a good dad and be more than a protector, but also a teacher to the still very young Grogu.
The Mandalorian and Grogu does a great job of making the movie accessible for newcomers. Viewers who have seen all three seasons of the Disney+ television series and the miniseries, The Book of Boba Fett, will likely appreciate all of the small easter eggs.
Still, the movie also assumes that audiences don’t have working knowledge of the titular characters’ lore. In fact, there are very few returning characters, and the film’s primary villains haven’t been seen since appearing for a small role in The Book of Boba Fett.
Instead, Mando and Grogu meet a lot of new characters, like Colonel Ward (Sigourney Weaver). Ward is an excellent addition to Star Wars, and Weaver is prominently featured in every bit of the film’s promotional material. Disney really wanted audiences to know that she would be joining the cast of a Star Wars film.
Sigourney Weaver’s first appearance in Star Wars is strong, even if it’s not extensive.
For her part, Sigourney Weaver was running a true actors’ clinic as Mando’s primary contact within The New Republic. Despite the film not giving her much to do, it’s hard to erase the gravitas Sigourney Weaver brings to every role she plays.
Here, her talent is on full display as Ward stands toe to toe with Din Djarin and is one of the few characters in this universe to not be intimidated by him. Weaver sells that exchange flawlessly. Unfortunately, the film just didn’t give her much to do beyond the three or four scenes she even appeared in.
On the other side of this was the film’s real standout newcomer, Rotta the Hutt (Jeremy Allen White), the son and sole heir to Jabba the Hutt’s position among the Hutt crime family— a family that might benefit from him not being there. White is very comfortable with playing a character in a toxic family thanks to his breakout role in Shameless. That said, Rotta does suffer from a bit of predictability in how his scenes are written.
Rotta’s family wants him rescued from a gangster, and Mando is hesitant to work for the Hutts but agrees on behalf of the New Republic. The following scenes were not surprising. Every story beat could be forecast from a mile away, from the time Mando leaves Nal Hutta to the time he completes his mission. Still, White’s performance, combined with the sheer presence of Rotta on screen, mostly gives them a pass.
The Mandalorian and Grogu does suffer from multiple technical flaws.
Unfortunately, The Mandalorian and Grogu suffers from very important drawbacks. Tonally, the movie is all over the place. The beginning of the film is dark, brutal, and mature. But there’s also a big stretch of the movie that feels like an 80s muppet movie, not unlike The Neverending Story or Labyrinth.
However, there was one good thing to come from these tonal inconsistencies. Through 3.5 seasons of The Mandalorian, Grogu was treated as little more than a set piece— a vehicle by which to tell a story. In The Mandalorian and Grogu, he is allowed to shine as more than just a spectator. In the 80s muppet-esque scenes, Grogu is given a lot to do, and the audience gets to see real character growth.
His name being added to the movie’s title wasn’t just because he’s Grogu and because Grogu is cute. His name belonged there right alongside “The Mandalorian.” On the other hand, these tonal inconsistencies can be a real roadblock to staying in the moment, especially for viewers who have a hard time turning off their brain to just enjoy the ride.
One part space western, one part muppet, The Mandalorian and Grogu is a solid entry.
The score was, regretfully, a product of the inconsistent tone. Even with the iconic theme song, it’s almost like Disney forgot that this is, functionally, a space western, and the music therefore forgot it was, too. Most of the score gave off an 80s synth vibe. This affected the pacing of the film in that, at times, it felt more like an RPG video game than a movie. With a few scenes, thanks to the aesthetic and the music, being very reminiscent of Blade Runner.
Initially, it seemed like the music was changing with the setting in a very deliberate attempt to match the on-screen aesthetic. While that was mostly true, there were times when it just didn’t match. Even when it did, there was something so jarring about having the score change so dramatically between scenes.
Overall, Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is a solid entry in the Mando-verse. Despite tonal and technical inconsistencies, Star Wars fans should enjoy The Mandalorian and Grogu. And, more critical fans may need to turn off their brains to just enjoy the ride. In any case, this one is worth giving a shot, especially on the big screen—this is The Way.
The Mandalorian is Grogu are in theaters nationwide now and will stream on Disney+ after their theatrical release.
The Mandalorian – Season 1 | Season 2 | Season 3
The Book of Boba Fett
Andor – Season 1 | Season 2
The Acolyte
Ahsoka Season 1
Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu
6.5/10
Summary
Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is a solid entry in the Mando-verse. Despite tonal and technical inconsistencies, Star Wars fans should enjoy The Mandalorian and Grogu. And, more critical fans may need to turn off their brains to just enjoy the ride.