Solo: A Star Wars Story Review
In the wake of the modern-day blockbuster era, few films come to mind that have faced as much of an uphill battle as Solo: A Star Wars Story. Nothing seemed to go right for a project that so many people doubted from the day of its announcement. Actor, Alden Ehrenreich, had the seemingly impossible task of replacing Harrison Ford as one of the most iconic characters in cinematic history. Not to mention the fact that a large portion of the Star Wars fan base expressed little interest in the project as a whole. If that wasn’t enough, the whole director controversy with Lord and Miller and eventual replacement by Ron Howard left the public wondering if the movie had any chance of being a hit.
As someone who followed the news stories closely, I became one of the few that always remained hopeful. I rejected the idea that it ran the risk of demystifying the character of Han Solo and the argument that the film seemed unnecessary didn’t stick with me (any movie can really be called unnecessary). Even after the switch of directors, I remained excited, knowing that my favorite Star Wars film of the new Disney era, Rogue One, faced similar problems.
As a fan with continued faith throughout the development of Solo: A Star Wars Story, I left the theatre very disappointed. Out of all 10 of the major feature films, this is the first that doesn’t feel like Star Wars. Even though I’ve begun to like the recent episodic films(Force Awakens and Last Jedi) less and less, this movie made me appreciate what JJ Abrams and Rian Johnson were able to pull off. Whether they resonated with me or not, at least they truly felt like they belonged in the world of Star Wars. They captured the magic of that universe.
In the film’s defense, that shouldn’t be a deal breaker. As long as you deliver a fun and entertaining film, you’re still a success in my book. Unfortunately, Solo: A Star Wars Story fails in that respect as well. It has an extremely fractured and unfocused plot with characters I found myself caring little about. Ehrenreich delivers a solid performance as a cocky, sardonic space scoundrel. However, he isn’t Han Solo. He feels like his own thing entirely. Even Donald Glover, who is receiving a lot of praise for his portrayal as Lando Calrissian, fell flat for me. His performance felt like nothing more than a mediocre impersonation. Not to mention, an extremely weird and jarring accent. It all combines to create a movie that lacks any true direction or personality. Even if the rumors are true and Lord and Miller’s ideas felt like something more out of an Ace Ventura film rather than Star Wars, at least it would’ve had its own unique voice.
Aside from those major issues, the film is dragged down my random plot issues and odd decision making. As someone who disagreed with the demystifying argument (and still think if done right, it could’ve added to the character) I have absolutely no interest in Han Solo’s background. The moment we find out how the iconic scoundrel got his last name is one of the laziest writing choices in recent memory and possibly one of the worst moments in Star Wars history. For a movie that made my mind wander, thinking about other things, the one thing I really appreciated was the choice to not have a bombastic third act, characteristic of so many recent blockbusters.
Solo: A Star Wars story is ultimately a movie who’s development is far more interesting than the outcome itself. It’s the the type of project I’d love to read a book about. I’m dying to know the truth of all the behind the scenes drama even though it’s likely to remain shrouded in secrecy. We’ll never know what Lord and Miller’s vision would’ve looked like but the alternative is something I wish had never been released. I just hope the disappointing box office results are enough to convince Lucasfilm to stick with December releases. Regardless of my opinion, some seem to really enjoy the flick as a fun action-adventure. If you’re curious, check Solo: A Star Wars Story out and join the conversation in the changing nature of what this cinematic universe has become.
