“I have a really good feeling about this!” —Han Solo
Today’s quick review: Solo: A Star Wars Story. Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich), a thief with dreams of becoming a pilot, escapes the crime syndicates of Cordellia by joining the Imperial Army, leaving behind Qi’ra (Emilia Clarke), the love of his life. Trapped in a pointless war far away from home, Han leaps at the opportunity to join outlaw Tobias Beckett (Woody Harrelson) and his crew for a heist worth enough credits to give him a fresh start.
Solo: A Star Wars Story is a sci-fi crime adventure set in the Star Wars universe. Solo serves as an origin story for Han Solo, chronicling his shady past and how he came to be the cynical smuggler seen in Episode IV. The movie is a jaunty adventure tinged with moments of sadness. Polished special effects, fun characters, and a well-scoped plot make Solo an enjoyable watch, but it never leaves its mark the way the best movies in the series do.
In terms of story and tone, Solo doesn’t have much in common with other Star Wars movies. Where the numbered episodes are sci-fi adventures with a hefty dose of heroic fantasy, Solo has more in common with the crime genre. Han is a kind-hearted criminal trying to escape from his past, only to get pulled deeper into trouble. The genre is a good fit for the Star Wars universe and offers a rare opportunity to show off the seedier side of the Galaxy.
However, Solo never goes beyond the basics, at least as far as its story is concerned. The plot covers everything it needs to but not much more, with a few formulaic twists that will be familiar to the fans of the crime genre. The setting makes for a colorful backdrop but isn’t used to its fullest, more of a whirlwind tour of the Galaxy than a carefully scripted journey. Furthermore, the additions to the lore are not as substantive as in other films.
Overall, Solo: A Star Wars Story is a fun movie that works as both a standalone sci-fi adventure and a prequel to the original Star Wars trilogy. The story is played a little too safely to stand out from the crowd, and the movie misses opportunities to use its setting in more creative ways. But in spite of these flaws, likable characters, a decent heist plot, and polished special effects are enough to make Solo worth a watch for anyone interested.
For a space opera that draws on a similar blend of genres with more success, try Guardians of the Galaxy. For a crime comedy with a similar story but without the science fiction, try Baby Driver.
6.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for solid craftsmanship without the vision to go further with its premise.