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So, here we are. Star Wars returns to the big screen for the first time since The Rise of Skywalker snuck out of cinemas with an embarrassed shrug after trying to apologise for The Last Jedi. Lucasfilm leaning on an established IP after the largely well-received (we won’t mention season 3) The Mandalorian rolled out across Disney+ ? Or not really knowing what to do with Star Wars so grabbing at anything?
However we got here, Jon Favreau is a talented director and a proper Star Wars fan, so at least that’s something. So, how will The Mandalorian and Grogu fare? Early box office projections reflect the new reality of cinema. The projections talk of the third-highest domestic opening of the year, which still only means topping out at around $90 million, just ahead of Solo: A Star Wars Story. This has as much to do with the post-COVID & generational shift in the theatrical landscape shifting as anything.
The most important question is this – is it any good?
Well, the movie premiered in Hollywood last night, so the first reactions are out. As usual, these early reactions are mostly from online outlets that were invited, as old pros on the internet movie scene, and superior online movie beings, Outposters know what this means. It also means we might have to deal with fucking hashtags.
Here they are, as garnered from the summary pages:
“I’ve seen #TheMandalorianAndGrogu! Above all else, M&G is a super FUN Star Wars movie. It’s not perfect, but there’s a lot for fans to love. It plays like an extended episode with double the budget and moves from one incredible action set piece to the next. IMAX is a must.”
Chris Killian, ComicBook.com
“Favreau rightfully chooses to take this IP back to its Eastwood-esque space western roots as he effectively expands this world instead of constricting it, introducing a myriad of exciting new locales, characters and gnarly creatures. The set pieces have needed visceral flair and are brimming with that infectious Star Wars energy I’ve been missing, especially in theaters.”
Tom Chatalbash, FilmSpeak
“#TheMandalorianAndGrogu is an energising, action-packed adventure that any Star Wars fan can enjoy. All of the fight scenes and high-speed chases will keep you hooked. Pedro Pascal still nails it as Din Djarin, but it’s Grogu (and ALL the puppets) will tug at your heartstrings.”
Christopher Gallardo, Popternative
“THE MANDALORIAN & GROGU is a perfect expansion of what the show set up. Truly the best outing yet for Baby Yoda and his dad. And also the best 20 minutes of a side quest to ever exist. God I love Star Wars on the big screen!!!!!”
Rachel Leishman, Collider
So far so good, right? Well, it is not all good. Here are some that are not so effusive:
“#TheMandalorianAndGrogu is one of the weakest Star Wars movies. An emotionless, predictable experience that doesn’t push Din Djarin anywhere interesting. Dull, unexciting fight scenes; just CGI monsters. Action figures mashed together. A long, colorless made-for-TV movie.”
Jonathan Sim, Coming Soon
“The good news is it feels like a capital M movie, not just a TV show stretched to fix the IMAX screen. The stakes and scale are both way bigger. The action is epic but grounded (not a lightsaber in sight). But the bad news is that it doesn’t feel like a Star Wars Movie. It never taps into that special feeling, aside from one scene at the end that gots bogged down in prequels-style CGI.”
Jacob Kleinman, Polygon
“Fine? An inoffensive, technically impressive spectacle that’s kinda a snooze fest. Very much structured like an abridged season of the TV show which unfortunately plays like watching the cutscenes of a Star Wars video game instead of playing one. The expansion of the canvas unfortunately exposes the weaknesses in the writing and lack of emotional connection I’ve felt for much of the series.”
Griffin Schiller, The Playlist
“#TheMandalorianandGrogu is as expected. A longer, bigger episode of the show. It has one or two stand out scenes but it feels much more interested in developing the story to new locations with new creatures than the characters. Enjoyed some of it, left frustrated but the rest.”
Germain Lussier, io9
“The Star Wars franchise at its most juiceless. A listless endeavor that feels closer to a video game at points than it does a movie. Visually, it flies well below any of the other theatrical entries and really struggles to create any sense of wonder or spectacle. Your kids will likely enjoy it, but this was not for me.”
Bob Goochman, Project Big Screen
You can find out for yourself soon enough, as The Mandalorian and Grogu opens in theaters May 22nd, which is just next week.
The post The First MANDALORIAN & GROGU Reactions appeared first on Last Movie Outpost.
