UMVA has learned that the latest installment in the Star Wars series, The Mandalorian and Grogu, has finally arrived, marking a significant milestone for the franchise after nearly seven years since the last film.
The Mandalorian warrior Din Djarin, voiced and played by Pedro Pascal, is now working exclusively for the New Republic to bring Imperial warlords to justice. His latest mission, tasked by his superior Colonel Ward, involves tracking down the New Republic's most wanted Imperial fugitive, with only his name to go on. For further intel, Mando must turn to the Twins, Hutt siblings who now control the Hutt criminal syndicates.
In a surprising twist, Mando and Grogu secure Rotta, Jabba the Hutt's son, who reveals the mystery Imperial's identity himself. Din and his partner, Zeb Orrelios, capture the target and take him back to the New Republic, breaking the agreement with the Twins. The Hutts don't take kindly to this betrayal and set out to exact revenge, prompting Grogu to turn protector and save Mando from the Twins' clutches.
The Mandalorian and Grogu has a unique flavor, similar to anime shows with "omnibus" releases, where multiple episodes are cobbled together and deposited into theaters. This approach works, but it does mean that the stakes are low; it's not about the fate of the galaxy. Instead, the movie narrows its focus to Din's survival and Grogu's efforts to rescue him.
The heroes are never in any real jeopardy, making the movie feel safe. However, the pacing is well-executed, and the film never drags despite its over two-hour runtime. Fans will appreciate Grogu getting to shine solo, and many of the film's funniest moments come from his antics. The movie's weakest moments come when it repeats some of the TV show's worst flaws, such as descending into mindless slaughterfests of droids or stormtroopers.
The movie excels when it inhabits and builds upon the universe George Lucas created. We see the Hutt homeworld, Nal Hutta, in live-action for the first time, and Star Wars' imaginative aliens and creatures shine. The film is replete with callbacks, such as an homage to the famous "Let the Wookiee win" scene from the original 1977 Star Wars movie.
Despite these connections, the words "Star Wars" never appear on screen, and John Williams's music is absent. The movie feels like it's in the same universe but somehow isn't. As this is the first film whose plot doesn't relate to the original trilogy, it may have been inevitable that it would feel disconnected.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that The Mandalorian and Grogu is the first Star Wars film since 2019's The Rise of Skywalker concluded the sequel trilogy on a sour note. Disney needs a triumph when it comes to Star Wars, as interest in the franchise has been ebbing. The Mandalorian and Grogu had the lowest box-office opening of any Star Wars film to date, but audience scores are positive.
The real test will be next May, when Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling and directed by Shawn Levy, arrives in theaters for the franchise's golden anniversary. As for The Mandalorian and Grogu, at worst, it's the second-best Star Wars film made under the Disney aegis, and easily tops all of the sequels. But will that be good enough? The future of Star Wars remains uncertain.
