REVIEW: ‘Star Wars: The Mandalorian And Grogu’ Is A Solid Addition To The Mando-Verse Despite Its Flaws

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 films, 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.

A single screen delivers the setup to The Mandalorian and Grogu, then cuts to the first scene. With it, director Jon Favreau and writers Dave Filoni and Noah Kloor make Star Wars history while also signaling something important— an identity shift in what makes a movie Star Wars.

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, makes the entire opening scene feel epic. It truly earns its place on the big screen.

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu return to the magic that made season one a favorite.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is a true return to what made the first season of the television show so magical. Every scene is built with the idea that the most important dynamic in this movie is the relationship between Mando and his foundling. In the way that the first season of The Mandalorian focused on their new relationship, the film spends 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.

Returning 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. The Mandalorian and Grogu also makes the movie accessible for newcomers -it doesn’t assume that audiences have working knowledge of the titular characters’ lore. In fact, there are very few returning characters, and the film’s primary villains’ last appearance was in a small role in The Book of Boba Fett.

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 is 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 ignore 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 doesn’t give her much to do beyond the three or four scenes she even appeared in.

On the other side of this is the film’s real standout newcomer, Rotta the Hutt (Jeremy Allen White). He is 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 suffers from a bit of predictability due to the writing of his scenes. 

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 aren’t surprising. Every story beat is 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 suffers 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 shines 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 belongs 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 gives off an ’80s synth vibe. This affects the pacing of the film in that, at times, it felt more like an RPG video game than a movie. A few scenes are reminiscent of Blade Runner due to the aesthetic and the music.

Initially, it seems like the music changes with the setting in a very deliberate attempt to match the on-screen aesthetic. While that was mostly true, there are times when it just didn’t match. Even when it does, there is 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 film is now streaming on Disney+

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The Book of Boba Fett
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