This is the way? The Mandalorian returns, but not for a fourth season on Disney+. Instead, Lucasfilm have opted to serve us with a theatrically released film aptly titled The Mandalorian and Grogu, the first Star Wars film to be released on the big screen since 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker. Was it worth the wait?
The Mandalorian and Grogu takes place some time after the events of the third season of the show (which aired over three years ago), with Mando working as an independent contractor for the New Republic, helping them by bringing in Imperial Warlords. Not that this really matters to the story, as this plot line is quickly abandoned and the real story is introduced. Mando is tasked by Sigourney Weaver’s Colonel Ward to find a missing Imperial warlord by taking on a job for the Hutt twins in exchange for his whereabouts. Their nephew, Rotta the Hutt, is missing, and they would like him rescued. So Mando and Grogu, along with Zeb from Rebels, embark to a shady planet to rescue the Hutt and gain said info.
My first thought when the credits rolled on Mandalorian and Grogu was that it would’ve made a really fun video game. I say that because this movie felt like a video game. Mando would be assigned a quest by an NPC character and proceed to his destination, only to be held up in an action scene, sometimes even having to face a boss, before repeating the cycle again. There’s even the battle droid marauders that look like they got lifted straight from the Jedi Survivor video game! But alas, this isn’t a video game; it’s a movie.
The end result does end up feeling a bit messy. It’s not the train wreck you might be thinking it is; the movie instead ends up being just okay. Perfectly fine, at best. The movie doesn’t really push the larger Star Wars narrative forward in any meaningful way, nor does it move the characterization of Mando and Grogu at all. They both start and end the movie at the same spot, which is to say they don’t change, learn, or grow throughout. So the sense is this movie feels like a filler episode of a serialized TV show (like Flash Gordon), where the hero goes off on a side quest that has no real bearing on the main narrative thread. There’s also no real tension in this story, since we know this franchise is a merchandising cash cow for Lucasfilm. And yes, this movie does feel like an abbreviated season of the show.
I did think the first half of the movie wasn’t half bad, that said. It reminded us why Mando is a badass in the first place, and showed off a cool, new city, and had a fun, pulpy tone that worked when bearing in mind the serialized tone. I also really liked the score. Ludwig Göransson once again nails it, delivering not only his signature tracks but also adding some synth-heavy tracks to the mix. I quite enjoyed these new themes and motifs. But as the second half of the movie kicks into gear, the pacing takes a massive hit for an extended period of time, and I began to get antsy and a bit impatient. Combine that with the aforementioned criticisms and really poor CGI aliens, and the experience ends up feeling lacking and even hollow at times. Is it weird that Phantom Menace, a movie that came out in 1999, looks better than this? Also, certain alien characters in the movie end up switching into what we hear as English (or whatever language you saw the movie in), and it’s just….weird. Is that a nitpick? Yes. Is it warranted from a Star Wars fan? Also yes.
The Mandalorian and Grogu is a serviceable movie for those who are fans of the show. It’s not a bad movie, but it’s not particularly great either. Just, fine. You’ll watch it, but you may not be compelled to watch it again. But even I am confused as to why this movie even exists, apart from using the mass appeal of Grogu to sell a movie. It’s too bad that this movie feels so self-contained, as I would’ve liked to have seen some developments in-universe or at least within the characterization. But kids will like this one for sure, and for a simple, fun trip to the movie with a heavy dose of cute, it does get that job done at least. But is this the way for future Star Wars movies? I don’t think so.
