Starring: Pedro Pascal, Brendan Wayne, Lateef Crowder, Sigourney Weaver, Jeremy Allen White, Martin Scorsese Written by: Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, and Noah Kloor Directed by: Jon Favreau
The Mandalorian and Grogu is proof that it takes more than projecting on a big screen to make a movie. Despite its big-budget production values and blockbuster director (Jon Favreau’s credits include Iron Man, Cowboys & Aliens, and 2019’s live-action The Lion King), this venture into the Star Wars universe feels slight.
You can blame it on the property’s Disney+ origins or the fact that TV itself has become much more cinematic over the past decade. But in reality, it’s the storytelling. The Mandalorian and Grogu is not a movie-worthy narrative for its main characters. Instead, it’s just another episode—granted a bigger, longer, beefier one.
Which is not to say the movie is bad or unenjoyable. It’s actually pretty fun and breezy for the majority of its (only slightly bloated) runtime. It spins a moderately engaging yarn—involving different locales, unique creature designs, and hutts (if you ever wondered what Jabba would look like buff, someone got your letters).
Best of all, there’s some great puppetry/animatronics. The movements and expressions of Grogu and a group of other characters (who shall remain nameless) bring real delight. You may be aware you’re watching puppets, but you still get far greater feeling and attachment with these physical creations than you do with CGI (and this film features both).
The score by Ludwig Göransson (who did the music for the TV show) also does a lot of heavy lifting here. It incorporates different styles and instruments without ever leaning on the work of John Williams to conjure nostalgia. It’s fantastic.
If this was a streaming movie, people would probably be saying “this is pretty good”. But as a theater movie, it feels underwhelming. While the big screen can make stories feel more epic, it can also be unforgiving in calling attention to flaws.
In the case of The Mandalorian and Grogu, the theatrical experience only heightens its weightlessness. There are no real stakes. Or significant emotional throughlines. The characters may go on a journey, but the audience doesn’t.
And that’s fine (even ideal) when you’re plopped down in the living room, second screening, and clicking “next episode”. But when you’re sitting in a dark room, ready to be transported, it’s like flying at light speed but going nowhere.
Really good point on how the impact of having the movie on the big screen does to it flaws. Felt the same weightlessness as you did. Good review!
Personally , as Ive seen so many reviews from this and clips of it and questioning it .. I purposely stayed away from the cinema as i've never seen , the 3 seasons of it , I would just keep thinking disney has ruined starwars , like where does it fit ? ... yodas tiny .. ?? I.e so im waiting till prime lol ..