A fan would be forgiven if their excitement level for “Solo” isn’t as high as other Star Wars films. The behind the scenes turmoil, coupled with the confusing idea of doing an origin story for a nameless smuggler makes this film seem like a very odd thing for Lucasfilm to focus on. But now it’s out, the marketing, behind the scenes and weirdness has passed, and now all that remains is the film itself. Should you have a bad feeling about this?
Alden Ehrenreich (“Blue Jasmine,” “Hail, Caesar!”) manages to rise above any initial worries related to his casting. His Han is funny, sweet and impulsive. He adds a fast thinking layer to his version of the eponymous smuggler, and it manages to do Ford’s original take on the character justice.
Donald Glover (“Community,” “Atlanta”) is the star of the show, however. While most of his Lando scenes are action based, when he is given a moment to sit down and lay his suave charm on, he does so excellently. He’s a character you simply want to see more of, as he adds a warmth and glow to every scene he’s in, without a doubt cementing himself as the best part of the film.
Of course, Chewy is there too. His scenes with Han still feature their trademark excellent back and forth, but now that he’s given a true subplot of his own, it goes a long way towards establishing him as more than a walking carpet. Emilia Clark (“Game of Thrones,” “Terminator Genisys”) does just fine as Qi’ra, Han’s childhood friend. She layers on just enough charm and smiles to help survive a fairly underdeveloped character, as does Paul Bettany (“Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Wimbledon”) as the crime lord Dryden Vos.
Woody Harrelson (“Now You See Me,” “White Men Can’t Jump”) manages to surprise as Tobias Beckett. There isn’t anything particularly new to his character, but he feels like Obi-Wan did to Luke. An older mentor who truly wants to impart some knowledge to this younger protégé. He does so with gruff and downtrodden mannerisms that manage to add enough to rise above a cookie-cutter mentor cliché.
While the cast is all well and good, it’s the story they inhabit that proves to be the films weakest element. While the idea of a western/heist film in the Star Wars universe sounds cool, what writers Jonathan and Lawrence Kasdan have done is delivered an almost aggressively average heist film plot. The banter is good, no doubt about it, but the beats of this story are so familiar that it makes it hard to get excited about each passing scene.
However, each passing scene does manage to hold weight due to the simple fun of seeing these characters meet and interact. The meeting between Chewy and Han is one of the film’s highlights, and teasing moment involving other characters and brief mentions do manage to get a chuckle.
Visually, it’s one of the strongest Star Wars films to date. While that could easily be chalked up to advancements in technology, its more than that. The film has such a devout reliance on practical effects that do wonders in fleshing out the world. When Han sits in a dive bar and gives a death glare to a shifty looking alien, it works so much better than with CGI, because its clear Alden was looking at the alien puppet/costume.
It also helps to avoid the typical disconnect during big action scenes between the actors and their surroundings. They’re bolstered even more by the excellent cinematography from Bradford Young (“Arrival,” “Selma”). The camera seems to float through scenes, delivering even the most routine angles with a new sense of vision thanks to excellent lighting and sets. This isn’t the pristine nature of previous films. This is a movie filled with wretched hives of scum and villainy. John Powell’s score also does wonders, taking Williams’s classic notes and infusing them with a touch all his own.
“Solo” is many things. It’s a fun romp through the Star Wars world with characters that are fun to watch. It's also a poorly paced and extremely routine heist film. It’s also constructed and shot so expertly that it’s a joy to watch. Make no mistake, this is a fun summer blockbuster, packed with adventure and twists. But it also could have been so much more. It is, as Qi’ra tells Han, “A little rough around the edges, but still good.” 3/5