Movie Review: “Solo: A Star Wars Story” is predictable but fun

Movie Review: “Solo: A Star Wars Story” (PG-13)

As was the case with “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” it’s been a bit of a turbulent road for “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” and for those of you out there who feel like the odds have been stacked against this film from the very beginning, I quote the iconic character at the heart of this latest “Star Wars” spinoff: “Never tell me the odds!”

“Solo: A Star Wars Story” delves into the early adventures of a Han Solo  who predates “A New Hope” (Alden Ehrenreich) as he sets out on a dangerous mission that finds him crossing paths with smuggler Tobias Beckett (Woody Harrelson), scoundrel Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover), and a lovable wookie called Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo). Along the way, he attempts to match wits with intergalactic villain Dryden Vos (Paul Bettan), takes on a squad of space pirates, and even finds time to engage in a potential romance with a mysterious woman from his past (Emilia Clarke).

Yes, if adventure has a name, it must be “scruffy looking nerf herder!”

Your complete enjoyment of this movie may rely on what side of the “Star Wars” coin you fall on. If the much polarizing “The Last Jedi” is your jam, then “Solo” may not be your cup of tea. “Solo” is certainly more along the lines of comfort food. This new spinoff movie also has a bit in common with “Rogue One” in that it’s showing viewers what was only alluded to in other chapters of the saga. That said, “Solo” is certainly more on the lighter side than the considerably bleaker “Rogue One,” and it also offers up characters that are more engaging.

“Solo: A Star Wars Story” was directed by Ron Howard, a veteran filmmaker who isn’t exactly new to Lucasfilm having directed 1988’s “Willow.” Howard stepped in for departing directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller late in the game, and this likable storyteller has not only done an admirable job picking up the ball and running with it but he’s also done it in a very limited amount of time. In fact, there were whispers that “Solo” might be bumped to the holidays so that Howard could have sufficient time to prepare. Clearly, that was not the case, because against all odds, “Solo” made its Memorial Day weekend release date.

“Solo: A Star Wars Story” was co-written by the legendary Lawrence Kasdan (“Raiders of the Lost Ark”), a man who knows a thing or two about Han as he also had a hand in writing “The Empire Strikes Back” over 38 years ago. He penned this screenplay with his son Jonathan, and together they’ve fashioned a script that relies quite heavily on fan service: lots of callbacks, tweaked do-overs, and clever plays on words. But given that this is a movie about Han Solo, how could it not?

Truth be told, there really is no reason for this movie to exist. But since it does, fans had to know that we’d be exposed to the obvious. Still, “Solo: A Star Wars Story” is better than it probably had any right to be. That isn’t meant as a backhanded compliment in any way.  It’s just that given the universally beloved nature of Han as a character, pivotal aspects of his mythology simply would have been best left to our vivid imaginations. All of that said, we obviously did get this movie, and overall it’s a largely entertaining one even if it’s unable to measure up to the original saga and the cherished character that inspired it.

A big question mark going into “Solo” is Alden Ehrenreich, and I’m happy to report that he’s a ton of fun in the title role — look no further than a wonderful scene in which his Han speaks to Chewie in his native language. Ehrenreich does have a bit of a Jack Nicholson vibe going early on, but in the end, he more than capably manages to conjure up the spirit of Harrison Ford’s portrayal, all while making the character his own. True, there will be arguments in terms of Han’s overall persona in this picture compared to the Han he eventually becomes in the original trilogy, but keep in mind that there’s time for him to grow into those particular shoes.

All the buzz surrounding Donald Glover is well earned! The “Atlanta” creator is absolutely fantastic as Lando. He captures all the wonderful nuances that make Billy Dee Williams such a fan favorite, but he also manages to bring enough depth to the proceedings that it’s easy to see why many fans are now clamoring for a Lando spinoff movie.

In terms of newcomers, Harrelson makes the biggest impression as a shifty smuggler who ultimately has a major hand in influencing Han’s many noteworthy characteristics. Harrelson is playful, but he brings dramatic weight to the table as well. Likewise, Clarke is warm and likable as Qi’ra, and thankfully, she’s far from a one-note damsel in distress. This “Game of Thrones” veteran is a tough cookie and has absolutely no problem taking care of herself.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge appears to be having an absolute blast voicing an equal-rights-seeking droid called L3, and she provides the film with plenty of laughs. L3 also proves to be quite the provocative “Star Wars” character, suggesting among other things that droids are perfectly capable of giving and receiving pleasure.

On the flip side, a usually dependable Paul Bettany is a bit on the dull side as the film’s heavy. He isn’t a total bust, but there isn’t anything particularly memorable about his Dryden Vos.

As for surprises, “Solo: A Star Wars Story” does have a few to offer — including a surprise cameo in the final act. But the truth is that so much of the groundwork was laid in “A New Hope,” “The Empire Strikes Back,” and “Return of the Jedi” that a great deal of what you see here is a bit on the predictable side. On the other hand, this is really about the journey and the adventure of it all, and in that regard, “Solo: A Star Wars Story” is a fun ride. Seeing a youthful Han piloting the Millennium Falcon again is a rousing experience to say the least, and it’s spirited moments like this as well as creatures galore, well conceived action sequences, and John Powell’s stirring score — a wonderful love letter to John Williams — that make this movie worth seeing on the biggest screen possible.

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