The Child
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| Grogu and the Anzellan mechanics |
Grogu – whom I (and most everyone else) like to call Baby Yoda – is still the playful childlike version of the same species as the Yoda we knew from previous films and TV series. Like his predecessor, Grogu is blessed with Jedi powers that he employs when necessary. Mando is a dutiful father; however, he does take the child along on dangerous missions. One questions whether it's because the child cannot be left alone without getting into mischief or that Grogu happens to be a useful partner when situations start getting precarious.
The movie begins – I was expecting the opening crawl – with some text letting us know the situation that the New Republic faces with remnants of the Empire still persisting in pockets across the galaxy. For those of you who haven't seen the last three films, this gives you an idea about the origins of the First Order that you will find in the sequel trilogy.
A New Mission
After a rollicking cold open that features Mando wiping out imperial remnants that he was supposed to bring in, Mando and Grogu meet with Colonel Ward (it's nice to see Sigourney Weaver joining the fold) with whom Mando has an agreement to hunt down and bring in these targets alive. Mando apologizes and says that it couldn't be helped.
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| Mando meets with Col. Ward |
After a cute Grogu moment with him trying to steal Ward's snack using the Force, she gives them a new target – Lord Coin (Jonny Coyne) – whom she must have brought back alive. Mando learns he has to travel to meet with the Hutt twins (voiced by Brendan Wayne and Lateef Crowder) who know Coin's location. He will only receive that information if he rescues the Hutts' cousin Rotta the Hutt (Jeremy Allen White) who has been kidnapped and imprisoned.
An Old Friend
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| Zeb with Mando and Grogu |
Mando doesn't like the idea that he has to deal with criminals like the Hutts, but takes on the job because Ward has gifted him a new Razor Crest. Fans of the show will recall his old ship getting destroyed. Mando is working with sometime partner Zeb Orrelios (Steve Blum), whom fans will remember from Star Wars Rebels.
Mando meets with the Hutts and they tell him where he can find Rotta. They want him returned to them quickly, and when he fulfills that job the Hutts will give him Coin's location. The Hutts say that he is working for them now, but Mando corrects them and says he's working for the New Republic not them.
A Sleazy City
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| A jacked Rotta the Hutt in the ring |
Shakari is one of those worlds that is outside of New Republic space, so its main city is like Las Vegas but with much less glitz and a lot more grit and grime. He finds that Rotta is being held in a huge arena where he is fighting like a gladiator in a ring surrounded by a boisterous audience.
Mando wants to help Rotta escape and go back to the twins, but Rotta informs him that his cousins only want him back to kill him since he is the legitimate heir to his father Jabba's criminal empire. It's surprising to see that Rotta is nothing like his father or the twins. Rotta speaks normally not in Huttese like his cousins, and he's in excellent physical condition unlike the other slovenly Hutts.
No Spoilers
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| Father and son and a mission |
The rest of the way is spoiler territory, but as I mentioned before there are mostly non-stop battles between Mando and nefarious forces. There are a few of those father and son moments that fans loved in the TV series, and Grogu has matured enough that he knows when to use his powers to help out dear old dad.
The film is visually beautiful, so credit goes to cinematographer David Klein, and as it was in the TV series, composer Ludwig Goransson's score – including the thrilling Mandalorian theme song – ebbs and rises to match the dynamics of the moment. Favreau has done a fine job of transitioning the story from TV series to a film, making everything seem appropriately bigger and louder for the big screen.
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| Filioni as pilot Trapper Wolf |
Executive producer and co-writer Dave Filoni appears in two scenes – a bar scene on Shakari wearing his signature cowboy hat – and as Trapper Wolf the X-wing pilot who is part of Colonel Ward's unit. These brief moments are fun to spot for fans of the series.
The Verdict
I highly recommend this movie. After seeing this film – I give it four and half out of five stars – it is comforting to know that Star Wars is now in the capable hands of Filoni and Favreau. This will give fans a new hope for better things to come on the big screen as well as on Disney+
Until next time, may the Force be with you!
Please check out the final trailer for the movie!
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