Two reviews from J.P. and “Sidewalks” creator Richard on the big-screen adventure for “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” starring Pedro Pascal and Sigourney Weaver.
“Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu”
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
- Directed by Jon Favreau
- Written by Jon Favreau. Dave Filoni, Noah Kloor
- Based on Characters by George Lucas
- Produced by Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Kathleen Kennedy, Ian Bryce
- Starring Pedro Pascal, Jeremy Allen White, Brendan Wayne, Lateef Crowder, Jonny Coyne, Martin Scorsese, Sigourney Weaver
ABOUT STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU:
The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu. Directed by Jon Favreau, “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” is written by Jon Favreau & Dave Filoni & Noah Kloor, and is produced by Kathleen Kennedy, p.g.a., Ian Bryce, p.g.a., Jon Favreau, p.g.a., and Dave Filoni, p.g.a., with Karen Gilchrist, John Bartnicki, and Carrie Beck serving as executive producers. The music is composed by Ludwig Göransson.
J.P.’s Take:
“Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” could easily fit into the Action/Thriller genre, reminiscent of classic ’70s action films like “Dirty Harry.” What super fans, even novices alike, will experience is a day in the life of the mighty bounty hunter, paired with an adorable sidekick, the big-eared and green Grogu, who is imbued with the force.
Fans of the streaming series “The Mandalorian” will notice that many elements of the show align with its backstory, serving both as a unique origin tale and a self-contained adventure. And although I’ve not completely watched the series myself, I could totally dive into and follow along with this film, without defaulting to the source material.
Those of you not yet acquainted with Disney’s gritty, Dirty Harry-styled character will be in for a quick-paced and formidable anti-hero film. Mando (Pedro Pascal) is a man of principle, stamina, and sheer resourcefulness, and boasts a fearlessness that comes with having great skill. And what’s on display here is a true test of his mettle as he travels the galaxy, hunting intergalactic gangsters, while his young apprentice Grogu backs him up. Yet he’s not all flash and dash; there is a vulnerable side to him, since Grogu is in his care, Mando acts as the child’s guardian. He takes on all these events with heart and a sense of purpose.
This isn’t your garden-variety origin story, however, so don’t go in expecting the usual backstory tropes. Instead, this narrative takes a different route, focusing less on the character’s humble beginnings and more on the present-day implications of his reputation. It flows from battle scenes to confrontations in a swift stroke of the paintbrush and stays there. To be fair, there are some well-played action sequences that keep fans rooting for him to best his opponent, yet you’ll be sitting through lengthy moments of no-holds-barred skirmishes to catch his man. Although they are exhilarating, that’s the gist of his motivation.
It dives headlong into the life of a bounty hunter who has risen to become one of the most revered and feared figures in the galaxy, who is hell-bent on putting the kibosh on the empire’s reach, but doesn’t linger on how he plans to do so. It does, to a degree, explore some of the complexities of his present existence, the challenges he eventually faces, and the few relationships he navigates in a universe filled with outlaws, intrigue, and danger. Some moments inevitably feel patted, with a few stumbling blocks to throw Mando off his game, only to find his way back on top for a victorious outcome. Then again, they are playing this up for the youngsters who look up to such a character. There’s even a touch of humor in the downplayed moments, also.
Yet I can’t really criticize director / writer Jon Favreau, producer / writer Dave Filoni, and crew too harshly for their approach, as this cinematic experience is really set up as a showdown for the mighty bounty hunter. From the beginning, the tension builds up, leading the audience to anticipate a climactic battle that feels both thrilling and complete. Story wise, it unfolds straightforwardly, with no covert twists and turns, to throw viewers into a conundrum.
The film features a significant amount of intense and violent scenes that do justify its PG-13 rating. The filmmakers clearly put their heart and soul into this project, drawing out character development and setting the stage for a promising, dramatic, and satisfying end piece for the fans.
Obviously, “The Mandalorian and Grogu” will resonate with those steeped in the “Star Wars” universe, ensuring the final moments are packed with excitement and a bit of emotional weight. I couldn’t hate on this outing, as this was a showdown that was waiting to happen, and was executed in the essence of a “Star Wars” action piece.
Richard’s Take:
With J.P. writing the main review, I will give my two cents to “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu.”
Grogu and The Mandalorian are back for an exciting season 4 a big screen spectacular! As many know, the original season 4 plans for the hit Disney+ series were scrapped following the Hollywood strikes a couple of years ago. The powers-to-be decided to bring their popular streaming show to a theater near you instead.
For non-Disney+ subscribers, watching “The Mandalorian and Grogu” does not require viewing the TV series first. The film doesn’t provide as much backstory for the characters as the TV show did. All you really need to know is that The Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal, with Brendan Wayne and Lateef Crowder as the on-set doubles) is a bounty hunter and the guardian—or dad—to his sidekick, Grogu.
The big-screen feature is a straightforward adventure. We travel with them on their ship — a brand new Razor Crest ship similar to the one Mando lost in season 2 — throughout different parts of the galaxy instantly, thanks to hyperdrive. We are thrown straight into the action as our two leads jump from one battle scene to the next. I’m not joking about the pacing, either; the movie takes Mando and the nicknamed “Baby Yoda” through countless action sequences without giving the audience much time to breathe.
What’s missing in the film is character development. There isn’t much depth, except for Mando and Grogu’s growing relationship and mutual care. The only time the film slows down is when little Grogu tries to help Mando survive a brutal battle.
There are familiar faces in the movie from “The Mandalorian” and other “Star Wars” properties, such as Jabba the Hutt’s twin cousins; New Republic pilot Garazeb “Zeb” Orrelios (played by Steve Blum, a character that was primarily featured in the excellent animated “Star Wars: Rebels” series); the Kyuzo bounty hunter Embo (voiced by Dave Filoni); and members of the Anzellan species, who are the droidsmiths that provide technical support.
New to the cast is Colonel Ward (Sigourney Weaver), a military officer operating within the ranks of the New Republic. Aside from joining the action in the final moments of the film, she mostly just gives orders—much like Devon Miles to Michael Knight in “Knight Rider” or Oscar Goldman to Colonel Steve Austin in “The Six Million Dollar Man.” It feels like a bit of a waste of talent; she really should have been brought on board for one of the missions. After all, we all know she can carry a weapon (oh sorry, that’s her character, Ellen Ripley, in the “Alien” franchise).
The strangest part of the film to me was the voice of Rotta the Hutt, the gladiator and the son of the infamous Jabba the Hutt from the original “Star Wars” films. Voiced by Jeremy Allen White (“Shameless,” “The Bear”), the character speaks perfect English in a completely normal, human-sounding voice. He doesn’t sound at all like his father’s gruff, difficult-to-understand tone. Oh well.
- Is the film worth watching? Yes.
- Is the film better than the TV series? No. The TV series uses its episodes to properly explore the characters, whereas this film does not.
- Does Grogu have many good scenes? Yes, a lot. It is a little too kiddie-oriented in some parts, but it is still fun and features some truly funny moments.
- Does the film feature many new characters / creatures? A big yes on creatures. It mainly introduces new creatures throughout the galaxy. I’m not sure if action figures are as popular nowadays as they were when the original “Star Wars” films came out, but toy companies certainly have plenty of creatures to choose from and give names.
To sum it up, “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” is an entertaining, non-stop action film. Like I said, it doesn’t move the story forward or characters as much as the TV show did. Instead, I think of it as a multi-part adventure where each battle sequence could easily serve as its own weekly episode on Disney+. I highly recommend seeing the film in IMAX, which is widely marketed as the best way to experience it.
Just have fun with it, as the “Star Wars” universe has finally returned to the big screen after so many years in a galaxy far, far away.
Official Site: Star Wars
