Action
Adventure
Review: ‘Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu’ is a Thrilling but Ultimately Inconsequential Adventure that’s Big on Blockbuster Action but Does Little to Move the Franchise Forward
May 21, 2026Ben MK
|
Whether it's Boba Fett in the original trilogy, Jango Fett in the prequel trilogy, or Din Djarin in the current era of George Lucas' iconic space opera, Star Wars fans have always had an affinity for the bounty hunters known as Mandalorians. So, when you consider the popularity of this small but elite group of heroes and villains, it's impressive that the powers that be have waited almost 50 years to give one of these fan-favorite characters their own standalone film. That all changes, however, with the release of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, a feature-length spin-off based on the Disney+ series The Mandorian. But does the continuing adventures of Mando and his cute but powerful Jedi sidekick, Grogu, have what it takes to return Star Wars to its place at to the top of the box office? The Galactic Empire has fallen, and the New Republic is determined to restore peace throughout the galaxy by hunting down all of the former high-ranking Imperial officials who have become warlords. In order to do so, though, the New Republic needs someone capable of taking on these dangerous missions — a task that has fallen on bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice, Grogu. Known to both friend and foe as the Mandalorian, Din has become a feared figure to those who devote themselves to a life of crime, but he has also become a trusted ally to individuals like Colonel Ward (Sigourney Weaver), one of the New Republic's most stalwart leaders and a woman committed to capturing every ex-Imperial officer in her deck of cards. However, when it comes to the next target on their list — a ruthless criminal warlord known as Lord Janu (Jonny Coyne) — things are a little more complicated, as Ward has struck a deal with Jabba the Hutt's infamous twin siblings, who have agreed to provide them with information on Janu's whereabouts in exchange for Din's help in rescuing Jabba's only son, Rotta the Hutt (Jeremy Allen White), the sole heir to the Hutt empire. Along with his friend and pilot Zeb Orrelios (Steve Blum), Din must travel to the Outer-Rim planet Shakari, where Rotta has been fighting as a gladiator and has been building a reputation for himself outside of his father's shadow. What Din doesn't anticipate, though, is for Rotta to be reluctant to accept his help, even though he spends his days in a cell, locked up like a prisoner. Adamant that he will be freed after his next and final fight, Rotta is dead set on fighting his last match and going out on his own terms. What he doesn't realize, however, is that his fial fight will be a Dejarik match, meaning that Rotta will face wave after wave of opponents until he's killed in the ring. It's a no-win situation, where the odds are most certainly not in Rotta's favor. But even if Din is able to get him out alive, will Rotta willingly return to Nal Hutta, where he's convinced his aunt and uncle are planning to kill him and assume full control of his father's legacy? Or will Din and Rotta find a way to work together, joining forces to capture Janu and, in the process, turn the tables on Jabba's dastardly siblings? Directed by Jon Favreau from a script he co-wrote with Dave Filoni and Noah Kloor, the result is a swashbuckling sci-fi adventure that doesn't require audiences to know too much about what came before, favoring action-packed set piece after action-packed set piece, rather than actual character development and narrative nuance. Thankfully, what The Mandalorian and Grogu lacks in storytelling prowess it more than makes up for with its big-screen presence, delivering no shortage of crowd-pleasing moments, fan service and nostalgic callbacks. Make no mistake, if you're looking for a Star Wars movie that actually moves the franchise forward, this isn't it. On the other hand, if you're simply content with a fun, blockbuster-ish adventure that happens to be set within the Star Wars universe, then you'll more than likely have no problem tagging along for the ride. Toss in a handful of homages and blink-and-you'll-miss-it nods to the works of Ray Harryhausen and to films such as Hard Boiled, Blade Runner and Princess Mononoke — not to mention a surprisingly fitting voice cameo from none other than Martin Scorsese, playing a diminutive, four-armed food vendor — and you have the makings of a movie that isn't shy about appealing to film aficionados. As far as The Mandalorian and Grogu's own ability to make a lasting impression on viewers, this is one Star Wars adventure that could easily be left by the side of the hyperspace highway without even causing a disturbance in the Force. Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu releases May 22nd, 2026 from Walt Disney Studios. The film has an MPAA rating of PG-13 for sci-fi violence and action. Its runtime is 2 hrs. 12 min. |
0 comments