We all know where
Han Solo ends up, but where did he come from? Some people want to
know and others could care less. But Disney is giving us his story
and it’s probably as good a film that could have come from such a
concept. “Solo: A Star Wars Story” is a film no one asked for
but it exists anyways and it works. The cast is well realized and it
looks and feels like the other Star Wars films. It’s a fun, light
adventure that will satisfy fans anxiously awaiting Episode IX.
I always wonder what
could have been with directors Christopher Miller and Phil Lord
initially at the helm, but Disney didn’t see eye to eye and they
were replaced by the extremely vanilla Ron Howard. Howard is a fine
director though he hardly takes many risks and offers little in the
way of visual wonder (though I’ve been particularly impressed with
some of his recent offerings like “Rush”). Howard is the safe
choice and “Solo” certainly is safe movie. There’s nothing
really wrong with it, but it won’t win any new fans. You pretty
much know what you’re getting and that’s not necessarily a bad
thing.
The film, taking
place in the years between Episode III and Episode IV, the film
follows a young Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich) a smuggler who works in
and around the criminal underworld. He’s a tad more optimistic than
his older self (we know that because he says things like “I’ve
got a GOOD feeling about this”). Emilia Clarke, making her way
through nerdy properties (ie Game of Thrones, Terminator), appears
as Han’s love interest Qi’ra. After an event that leads to her
capture, Solo trains with the Imperial army and eventually leads a
daring heist that involves a highly sought after fuel called Coaxium.
Woody Harrelson shows up as Han’s mentor Tobias Beckett, and we
meet familiar faces along the way including Chewbacca and Lando
Calrissian (Donald Glover). Paul Bettany is fine as the film’s
villainous crime lord Dryden Vos.
Howard directs the
film with an assured hand. The action scenes are well-shot and
suspenseful. The actors are fantastic in their roles. The visual
effects work and the cinematography from Bradford Young (“Arrival”)
has an appropriately dark and grungy look. John Powell’s score,
which uses lots of John Williams cues, is fantastic and uplifting.
The film functions, much like “Rogue One,” as a fun heist film.
It’s obvious the film was made for fans even if they never really
wanted it.
I get what Disney is
trying to do. They could potentially have a million Star Wars-related
films made. They just need to make the really great ones. “Solo: A
Star Wars Story” is a completely fine movie. I just really want to
see a great one. GRADE: B
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