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Written by: Jon Favreau & Dave Filoni & Noah Kloor (written by), George Lucas (based on characters created by)
Directed by: Jon Favreau
Starring: Pedro Pascal, Brendan Wayne, Lateef Crowder Jonny Coyne, Sigourney Weaver, Jeremy Allen White
Rated: PG-13
Plot
Once a lone bounty hunter, Mandalorian Din Djarin and his apprentice Grogu embark on an exciting new Star Wars adventure.
Verdict
This does what you would expect from a Mandalorian movie. Unfortunately it feels more like a longer episode than a groundbreaking adventure. It's a solid action movie with the Mandalorian on yet another mission that keeps getting more complicated as he helps the rebels. This does have a sequence in the second half that all but stops the pacing, and part of that is that it's led by Grogu whose limitations as a character prevent him from leading a movie. We're also introduced to a new side character, a Hutt no less, that gets enough development to make them somewhat interesting. I enjoyed this, but it lacks any 'big' moments, feeling more small screen than big.
Watch It.
Review
A follow-up to the The Mandalorian (2019) series that helped launch the Disney+ streaming service, a fourth season was planned before the story was decided to be reformatted as a feature film. There is no plan to continue the series.
You don't need to have seen the series to watch this movie, though it does provide a lot of background. Similarly, this doesn't provide any closure or end the series in a meaningful way. It's just another adventure.
This opens with an ally of the Imperial totalitarian regime shaking down several town leaders. The Mandalorian, Mando (Pedro Pascal), cuts the meeting short, taking out soldiers en route to the Imperialist. Grogu is in tow because why not, his name is in the title. The Imperialist flees as Mando takes down AT-ATs en route. He's intent on taking out any threat to the rebels, working with them to end the Empire's threats.
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| Pedro Pascal plays The Mandalorian |
Mando's next mission is to find a mysterious Imperial leader known only as Coin. With no leads, the rebels make a deal with the Hutts. Mando refuses, but the rebel general states he's working for the rebels, not the Hutts. That's splitting hairs, but it's good enough for Mando. The Hutts are the siblings of Jabba the Hutt who appeared in Star Wars Episode VI (1983). They want Mando to rescue their nephew. In return, they'll provide information on Coin.
The nephew, Rotta, isn't really imprisoned. He has an agreement as a gladiator as a means to distance himself from his father Jabba and make his own name. It does seem like a joke to have a ripped Hutt, especially in comparison to Jabba. Mando has to save someone that doesn't want to be saved. That ends up with Mando being imprisoned and forced to fight in the arena with Rotta. Of course Mando manages to win and free Rotta. By accident Rotta reveals Coin's identity, unaware that was who Mando sought.
Mando breaks his deal with the Hutts to help Rotta. The Hutts aren't as good as they seemed, which isn't a shock. While the rebels are concerned Mando broke the deal which reflects on them and the relationship they've built with the Hutts, they'd rather be on Mando's good side. The Hutts aren't as forgiving. Mando is captured and delivered to the Hutts who remove his helmet as a means of humiliating him. Part of the Mandalorian creed is that enemies should never see your face. Mando sardonically states that it's only a dishonor if he allows them to live. They laugh, sending him to his death, but we know killing the Mandalorian isn't so easy.
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| Grogu |
Meanwhile Grogu enlisted Mando's mechanics to save his guardian. Their timing is impeccable as Mando needs time to recover, on the brink of death. With Mando incapacitated, the Grogu section drags. That's unfortunately emphasized with how fast paced the rest of the movie has been. I wondered if the movie would have Mando succumb to his wounds. It would have been a bold choice, but the longer the sequence continued, the more certain I became that he would recover. I suppose this wanted to devote screen time to Grogu, but the plot all but stands still. Grogu is great as a side character, but he can't lead a movie.
Realizing the Hutts will never stop hunting him and the fact that he's not one to run, Mando plans to kill the Hutts. It's a big flashy battle with Grogu even pitching in, but we knew how it would end as soon as the gambit began. The Mandalorian and Grogu ride off into the sunset, having defeated all of their enemies. It's more of the same, and the only reason I could think to convert this from a season to a movie is money.
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| Title Card |
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