Not so long ago (in a galaxy very, very near) it would have been unthinkable to suggest a world in which Star Wars was thought of predominantly as a small-screen concern. But in the seven or so years since the most cinematic of all the major film franchises limply ended its sequel trilogy with the disastrously received The Rise of Skywalker, our only window into a galaxy far, far away has been through a glut of TV shows on Disney+.
While there have been some undoubted highs during that stretch – with Tony Gilroy’s majestic Andor the clear pinnacle – there’s also been a sense that this TV-first approach was merely a brief blip before blockbuster status returned.
What might not have been foreseen was that the return to the big screen would be born directly from one of those aforementioned streaming series. But that’s precisely what’s happened, with Jon Favreau returning to helm a bigger budgeted spin-off of his Pedro Pascal-starring hit The Mandalorian (with lovable sidekick Grogu, aka Baby Yoda, now also promoted to title character).
The result is something that – for better and worse – presents Star Wars at its most light, pulpy and throwaway. It’s the sort of engaging action-adventure story that will play best with younger audiences and those in search of a small dose of escapism, while lacking the grandeur and scale of the very best Star Wars tales.
A high level of expertise around the TV show, or indeed Star Wars lore more generally, is not a prerequisite. A snappy pre-titles action scene swiftly reintroduces us to Pascal’s Din Djarin and instantly establishes him as the mythic, near indestructible bounty hunter who can see off his enemies – in this case an outpost of former Imperial loyalists – with ease (and perhaps a little help from his adorable pal).
View Green Video on the source websiteSoon, the pair are set off on a mission by their boss Ward (sci-fi legend Sigourney Weaver, in her Star Wars debut) at the request of the feared Hutt crime family (they of Jabba fame). Mando and Grogu have been tasked with rescuing family member Rotta from the clutches of the wicked Janu, who has kidnapped him and forced him to fight in gladiatorial duels for the pleasure of a baying crowd.
And so they travel to Shakari – a moon whose design is inspired by Prohibition-era Chicago but has more than a touch of Blade Runner to its dark streets and neon lights – kicking off an adventure that will eventually sees them do battle with a vast array of the galaxy’s beasts.
Favreau is clearly having fun with those creatures, and across the runtime the audience are treated to everything from a melee in Rotta’s gladiatorial arena – where a string of horrific creatures are unleashed – to a monstrous swamp-dwelling basilisk-like creature that must surely count as one of the more imposing threats Mando has faced.
These action sequences, which use both CGI and practical effects, are generally fairly gripping though probably won't rank among the most memorable in the long-running franchise when all is said and done.
Perhaps befitting of this particular property’s origins as a TV series, the plot is rather episodic and almost feels like it could have served as another series of the show. But it largely zips by at a steady clip, and an impressive score from double Oscar winner Ludwig Göransson adds some grandeur to the occasion.
Of the high-profile new additions to the cast, Weaver feels wasted in a one-note role that gives her almost nothing meaningful to do, while it’s difficult to understand why producers bothered to cast a big name like The Bear’s Jeremy Allen White only to make Rotta's voice completely unrecognisable anyway. There is, however, a brief treat in the form of a vocal cameo from directing legend Martin Scorsese.
Grogu – who is flanked by an amusing posse of Anzellans – also gets plenty of moments to shine, and if the film can be said to have a major theme then it's the ways in which parent and child dynamics can adapt and even reverse over time. Or, as it is put in the film: "The old protect the young, and then the young protect the old."
In truth, it seems unlikely this is the film that will truly reignite the success of Star Wars on the big screen. But in the moment, The Mandalorian & Grogu is a diverting romp with some fun scenes and a few endearingly touching moments.
The Mandalorian & Grogu is coming to cinemas on 22 May.
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