So you’re a Star Wars fan that feels obligated to see “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” but you’re not really sure what to expect. You want to be excited, but you don’t want to get your hopes up in case the movie ends up being the dumpster fire some have predicted. Do you see it? If so, what should your expectations be? And most importantly...does it suck?
In short -- NO, it doesn’t suck. It’s a fast-paced, action-packed 130-minute trip through Han’s unexplored background and his initiation into the smuggler lifestyle with a crap-ton of nerdy easter eggs thrown in along the way. While not an all-time classic, it tells a fun and entertaining story that fills in a lot of gaps in the Star Wars universe.
How was Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo?
He’s not Harrison Ford -- and a lot of that is on purpose. This isn’t the grizzled, cynical, pragmatic Han we meet in A New Hope. This younger more naive version is full of dreams, big ideas, and a loyalty and optimism that’s eroded by the time he meets Luke in Episode IV. The Han of this movie is, quite simply, a different Han Solo. It’s similar to Daniel Craig’s turn as 007 in Casino Royale; the character is different because you’re seeing the circumstances and life experience that turns the vulnerable younger version of the character into the hardened one we’re more familiar with. How you feel about that will largely depend on your own expectations -- some will find it refreshing and others will hate it.
That said, Solo’s trademark charm, wit, and swagger are still there, just not quite to Fordian levels. It also takes some time to get used to Ehrenreich’s voice and cadence, which are noticeably different than Ford’s portrayal of the character.
How was Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian?
While Han very much undergoes a “coming of age” in this movie, Lando is the exact same conniving, smooth-talking scoundrel we met in Empire Strikes Back. Not only does Donald Glover nail the look and feel of Billy Dee Williams’ original Lando, his voice and delivery are so spot-on that if you close your eyes you’d swear it was Williams himself talking.
Lando is the essentially the “Loki” of this movie; he’s a scene-stealing anti-hero who you want to root for but aren’t really sure you can trust. He’s neither heroic nor evil, he just exists in his own sphere and it’s AWESOME to watch.
What You’re Going to Like
Han’s Back Story - Han’s transition in the first act of the movie from street-wise orphan to wet-behind-the-ears smuggler is a tad rushed, but the story it follows is interesting and takes you (literally) all over the galaxy. I especially loved how he and Chewbacca first meet, and their interplay & dialogue is great as they slowly forge their famous friendship throughout the film.
Nostalgia & Easter Eggs - There are SOO many subtle references in the movie that reward fans for knowing their Star Wars history. Sometimes this kind of fan service comes across as gratuitous or cheesy, but in this case the veiled lines and visual references really added to movie and succeeded at making it feel more connected to the original trilogy.
Lando - See above.
Beckett - I enjoyed Woody Harrelson’s “Beckett” because in watching him you see so much of the man Han is going to become. Beckett very much shapes Han’s worldview throughout the film, and he himself is entertaining with his Solo-esque sarcasm, condescension, and cynicism.
The Kessel Run - You finally get to see the voyage that made Han and the Millenium Falcon famous and WHY he was able to do it so fast. Although it’s exciting, it’s probably not what you’re expecting.
Unpredictable 3rd Act - About 40 minutes into the movie you can clearly see where it’s going and how it wants to get there. BUT the last 20 minutes detours from the obvious ending it seems headed for, and the twists and turns it throws in are mostly good.
Final Cameo - The film ends with a “Holy $#!&” cameo by one of the most popular villains in the Star Wars animated universe. Fans of the TV shows will have their minds blown seeing this character brought to the big screen, and the movie left the door open for them to appear in future films.
What You Might Not Like
Action Overload - The movie hits a break-neck pace in a few spots and some of the action sequences are strung together so rapidly that the action from one scene doesn’t always have time to sink in before the next flurry of chases and explosions hits.
Kira’s Motivation - Emilia Clarke’s “Kira” is Han’s childhood friend and love interest, and she plays a HUGE role in the plot of this film and in Han’s character development. When they reunite it’s hinted that she’s had some traumatic/checkered experiences that have changed her outlook and priorities, but it’s never fully explained. This makes her choices in 3rd act confusing simply because we don’t know anything about the experiences motivating her actions.
The SJW Droid - Yep, Lando’s personal droid (L3-37) is not-so-subtly portrayed as an advocate for droid social justice. It’s mostly tongue & cheek and largely hilarious, but it would be easy to feel as is if the equality message is being shoved down your throat OR like the movie is simply poking fun at social justice advocates.
Unpredictable 3rd Act - Remember how I said those twists and turns were “mostly” good? They are, but some of the outsmarting and double-crossing gets to be a bit convoluted. A few of the plot twists feel like twists just for the heck of it. One of the good twists -- the cameo I mentioned -- throws a huge monkey wrench into the final resolution, and ultimately the movie ends WITHOUT tying up all the loose ends. This film seems destined for a sequel and while the doors it leaves open are undeniably interesting, it was a little frustrating not to see all the storylines from this movie put completely to bed.
Movie Rating
Plot/Story - 8.75/10 - It’s super-cohesive and everything in the movie builds logically off what previously happened. The multiple plot twists just seemed a bit much near the end.
Dialogue - 9/10 - The dialogue is full of wit, humor, and foreshadowing that fits the characters and doesn’t feel forced. I honestly felt it was one of the strengths of the entire film.
Characters - 8.25/10 - There are three super-likable characters in this movie, and it’s been a while since I could say that for any non-Marvel flick.
Music/Score - 5.4/7.5 - It’s not a vintage John Williams score, but it mixes in some of the traditional Star Wars themes at times that add a nice touch of nostalgia.
Emotion - 4.8/7.5 -- The movie really tries to be emotionally resonant, but those attempts didn’t really land for me personally. Director Ron Howard does a great job getting you invested in the characters, so bonus points for that.
Visuals - 6/7.5 - This movie doesn't have the bright and shiny feel of the most recent films. It's full of grays, browns, and dark, dingy settings that makes the film itself feel gritty and under-worldish. The look really suits both the story and the characters well. And while there aren’t any lightsaber fights to drool over, the Kessel Run is eye-popping and the transport robbery is really eye-catching as also.
Originality - 4.5/5 - This definitely doesn’t feel like rehashed Star Wars fanfare, and the third act tries its best to avoid a cliche ending.
“IT” Factor - 6/10 - I left feeling satisfied, but not blown away. That said, the movie gets a full point for the amazing cameo at the end.
Final Score: 62.75/80 = 78.1% (C+)
Summary: If you’re able to get past your own pre-movie expectations and the fact that Alden Ehrenreich is not Harrison Ford, this movie has a lot to offer you. It’s original, entertaining, and does a better-than-satisfactory job at filling in some huge gaps in the background of one of Star Wars’ most iconic characters. (Plus Lando...Lando is AWESOME.)
Comments