IR Film Review: THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU [Lucasfilm/Disney]

The motivation of the Grogu/Mandalorian connection is one of father and son. While the context of the new movie "The Mandalorian And Grogu" very much integrates that story in a very subtle but also feeling way, the reality is that the series could do it just as well. It is not that the film isn't cinematic. It ups the ante from the get-go, in many ways like "Solo" did. This a more mature and seasoned Mandalorian as well as Grogu. Director Jon Favreau knows this...and in writing this with Dave Filoni, he does understand his characters inherently. But "The Mandalorian And Grogu" as fun at times as it is, is too connected to the small screen. With a much bigger budget and a cinematic eye, the story ranges back and forth but never quite awes like Star Wars of old. That might just be the new normal. But the anticipation is that you are waiting for the episode to end and the next one to start. There are some moments that make it stand out, most specifically when Grogu has to take a mission on on his own and yet he does not speak. Mando is his own man and his code very much stays in play, even as he is working for a new CO in Sigourney Weaver. The story progression and mission make sense and it does transition into something else but the stakes, except for one part don't really feel enough.

There is one way they could have gone which would have been a gut wrencher but they decided not to. The side story regarding the Hutts and a specific offspring is actually the most intriguing aspects of the film, creating an image in the surf of a planet that one did not see coming and that really speaks to Star Wars (and yet does still feel a little woke). Filoni and Favreau know where the heart is...and maybe they are just wrapping up this sector before Filoni moves forward as the head of Lucasfilm in a new way...and Favreau seems to indicate he is moving on to other things. While this might be the passing of the guard, it is hard to say how the mythology of the past that has served so well (specifically the animated series which sometimes have eclipsed the live action series) can perhaps create Star Wars anew but it is a tall order. The prequels have gained their fans over the years, so maybe it is just a context of time. And perhaps The Mandalorian has made his mark.

With the exception of Zeb, this story is fairly self contained. There is an extended cameo on a outlying planet which is sort of tongue-in-cheek and meta which allows the story to progress in much the same way as an episode (but again with more budget). The best action scene by far in many ways is the opening salvo where Mando and the kid are performing in unison. They are perfectly in sync. Mando is ruthless in his violence in many ways and in a way it comes off more pronounced on the big screen for some reason. There is no blood, save for one part but the code is sometimes interestingly played. One cool aspect is when another bounty hunter comes into play and it does feels a little more dangerous especially during a rain soaked stealtb mission. Of course the most crowd pleasing aspect is the little mechanics and Grogu who is learning to play nice with them. One shot inside a spaceship is actually worth the price of admission (and would be its own great little Star Wars short/series). It seems that all in play are just having fun with it (you can tell this by composer Ludwig doing an interesting synth approach on a fighter planet) and then an odd take on the Mandalorian theme in the end credits. But "The Mandalorian And Grogu" doesn't have any bigger aspirations and that might be part of the approach since fans seems to complain no matter what. The film is fun but it doesn't stand out. It is effective but yet so was the TV series. It is an interesting time in that manner with a bit of fun and a bit of myth and sound crowdpleasing moments. B

By Tim Wassberg