The most used comment for this film is that it’s 2/3 episodes of the show stitched together. Yeah it pretty much is and I think if they were episodes it would actually be better. However, they have been put to screen in a feature length screen play, so it must be judged like that.
- Director – Jon Favreau
- Runtime – 132 minutes
- Certificate – 12A
- Country – United States
The story is just one big space quest involving mini objectives. I’m actually quite fond of that idea and in that regard it does great. Surprisingly self contained that doesn’t try to connect to the other films. However, what it does in being self contained, it lacks in its script. This film does not assume you have consumed any other Star Wars media ever.
It is incredibly watered down and expository. Every other sentence is telling you who this character is and their backstory. Treating the audience this dumb is a bit insulting considering Star Wars is readily accessible and not some niche interest.
This script does not help its stars. To have Sigourney Weaver in your film and for her to be this stiff is impressive. None of the performances are captivating in the slightest, particularly Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian).
Which is generous as from just watching the film it looks like he was only on set for once scene. It’s been know that he barely does the physical acting since season 1 and here it really needed him. In season 1, he had so much more swagger and individuality than he does in the film and the later seasons. He really had this space western cowboy vibe from literally just the way he stands.
Going back to the episodic structure, it does definitely feel like a season of the show but almost like it got cancelled before they could finish filming all the episodes (which isn’t too far off). The story doesn’t really do much for Mando’s character arc and he ends up in the same place he started. This should have been the end to his character and probably Grogu because he doesn’t fit the timeline of the sequels, but it isn’t.
So instead of feeling like a cinematic end to this character it feels like another season. Not that it’s necessarily a bad thing but it all feels minimal.
The structure also messes with the pacing massively. There’s about a 10 minute sequence involving just Grogu that halts the pacing immediately. Speaking of Grogu, I thought his gimmick would wear off very quickly but surprisingly it doesn’t and he is a delight that did make me chuckle probably every time he was on screen.
The first 40 minutes were actually quite good. The action was brilliant. Am I seriously meant to act like Mando getting into a bar fight isn’t incredibly cool to see? Because it absolutely was. And him taking down stormtroopers one by one and moving like he was in season 1 had me smiling from ear to ear.
The planet of Shakari looked better than I thought it would, being set at night with neon lights being used for the lighting. The visuals do take a drop during the arena fight scene with it looking like Jon Favreau smashing a bunch of action figures together.
After those 40 minutes it does turn into a bit of a ‘slopfest’ with the final 10 minutes being another instance of action figures being smashed around. Regardless, I would be lying if I didn’t enjoy a majority of the runtime. Again am I meant to think Embo hunting down Mando in the pouring rain isn’t incredibly cool? And that final fight between the two in the Hutt palace was great – wish it had a more satisfying conclusion though. The fight just kind of ends.
Easily the best aspect about the film is the score. Ludwig Göransson returns for the film and thank God. Obviously he is a phenomenal scorer with having 3 Oscars but something else possesses him when does a score for The Mandalorion. The track ‘Shakari’ had me bopping my head every time it played – it is so good.
The Mandalorian and Grogu does show a side of Star Wars that could be the future with a self contained adventure story that has good action set pieces but not with this level of quality. The performance, pacing, actual plot and incredibly inconsistent visuals hinder it massively. Not great but not that bad – very inoffensive.
The Mandalorian & Grogu is now playing at the Lockworks.