STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU -- This is Kind of the Way?

Review by Chadd Clubine

Six and a half years after the last Star Wars film, the franchise finally returns to theaters with The Mandalorian & Grogu, a continuation of the Disney+ series that still manages to feel surprisingly standalone. Even viewers unfamiliar with the show should have little trouble following along, as the film provides plenty of exposition to bring audiences up to speed. It’s easy to see why this became the next theatrical Star Wars project. Not only is The Mandalorian immensely popular, but its cinematic scope — from the story and tone to the sweeping score — naturally lends itself to the big-screen experience. While the film delivers on that theatrical scale, there’s also a lingering sense that it may have arrived a little too late.

It’s clear Disney’s decision to turn this into a film was driven largely by the franchise’s popularity. In many ways, a theatrical release would have made far more sense immediately after the second season, when the series was at its cultural peak. Reuniting Din Djarin and Grogu in The Book of Boba Fett as they originally did, then transitioning directly into a feature film, could have felt like a natural progression. Instead, the current direction of these characters feels uncertain and unfocused. Even the title, The Mandalorian & Grogu, raises questions about the franchise’s future. Does this lead into The Mandalorian Season 4, or set up a sequel like The Mandalorian & Grogu 2? Right now, it feels as though audiences are simply expected to watch these characters bounce from one adventure to the next without any real sense of destination. Because of that, it becomes increasingly difficult to stay emotionally invested when the characters seem protected by endless plot armor. Beyond Din Djarin and Grogu, the only major new addition that truly feels worth investing in is Jeremy Allen White’s Rotta the Hutt, a character who at least hints at having a distinct and potentially meaningful future within the franchise.

What ultimately unfolds is a story that feels fairly safe and formulaic. Even the marketing keeps the plot intentionally vague, and once the true antagonists and larger narrative are revealed, it becomes hard not to question why this needed to be a theatrical event in the first place. Still, the film’s sweeping action and visual spectacle ultimately provide the answer for why it belongs on the big screen. From its breathtaking opening sequence, The Mandalorian & Grogu immediately pulls audiences in and rarely loosens its grip. In many ways, that alone captures the essence of what a summer blockbuster should be. While some of the action-heavy plot beats can become overwhelming at times, director Jon Favreau clearly understands how to keep viewers engaged and consistently deliver crowd-pleasing spectacle.

​Following its incredible opening action set piece, The Mandalorian & Grogu makes a surprisingly bold creative choice that none of the previous Star Wars films have attempted. It fundamentally alters the traditional structure of a Star Wars movie, and while the decision helps establish a distinct tone — especially for viewers unfamiliar with the series — it also sacrifices some of the uniqueness that made the original show so compelling in the first place. Unlike the earlier seasons, which felt more deliberate and purpose-driven, this film often comes across as a project born primarily from the franchise’s overwhelming popularity. Still, credit is due to Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni for convincing Disney to fully embrace theatrical Star Wars storytelling again. When the action erupts and the practical effects take center stage, the film serves as a powerful reminder of why audiences fell in love with this franchise to begin with.

Out of everything the film has to offer, its greatest strength may ultimately be Ludwig Göransson’s phenomenal score. Considering the consistently exceptional work he has delivered in recent years, it’s remarkable how he continues to produce music of this caliber. There’s little doubt that this will stand as one of the year’s best film scores. Göransson has developed a distinctive musical style, yet he always understands how to use specific sounds and textures to make his compositions feel deeply immersive. Even listening to the score on its own after seeing The Mandalorian & Grogu feels like reliving the film all over again.

Overall, Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu succeeds in delivering a strong theatrical experience, anchored by its spectacle and standout score, but it ultimately falls short in terms of story and characterization. In trying to serve both longtime fans and newcomers, the film leans heavily on exposition at times, which can feel tonally uneven and occasionally disrupt the pacing. The narrative itself doesn’t break new thematic ground, instead revisiting ideas the franchise has explored many times before. It may not be exactly what Star Wars needs at this moment in its evolution, but for anyone who grew up with the franchise and still values seeing it on the big screen, it still carries a sense of return and familiarity that’s hard to dismiss.

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu premieres in theaters May 22nd!

RATING: 3.5/5