In Review: Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu

Synopsis: Once a lone bounty hunter, Mandalorian Din Djarin and his apprentice Grogu embark on an exciting new Star Wars adventure.

The Story

Having completed his mission to protect Grogu from what remains of the Empire and help restore a sense of pride to Mandalore, Din Djarin, better known as The Mandalorian, is now working for the New Republic, tracking down former Imperial leaders.

After returning from a successful mission in which he eliminates another target, Din is assigned a new task by Colonel Ward. The Hutts have offered information on a mysterious Imperial leader who has managed to remain hidden from the New Republic, but in exchange they want Din to rescue Rotta the Hutt, the nephew of Jabba the Hutt.

However, things are not quite as straightforward as they seem. When Din and Grogu finally locate Rotta, they discover he has been living as a prizefighter under contract to Lord Janu, who just happens to be the very Imperial leader the New Republic has been searching for.

As events unfold, it becomes clear that the Hutts are attempting to play both sides against one another. What begins as a straightforward rescue mission soon spirals into something far more complicated, leaving Din Djarin and Grogu fighting to stay one step ahead as they uncover the truth behind the Hutt’s scheme.

The Acting

The acting performances in this film are fantastic throughout. Pedro Pascal once again fully commits to his portrayal of Din Djarin, bringing both grit and heart to the character. He receives strong support in the early part of the film from Steve Blum, who reprises his role as Zeb Orrelios from Star Wars Rebels. It is great to see the character make the jump from animation to live action, and Zeb enjoys several memorable moments throughout the story, developing a fun rapport with both Din and Grogu.

We also get an excellent performance from Jeremy Allen White as Rotta the Hutt. Unlike his infamous uncle, Rotta is a far more sympathetic character who simply wants to forge his own path. Some of the film’s strongest moments come from the growing friendship between Rotta and Grogu, with the pair sharing several genuinely charming scenes together.

Sigourney Weaver also delivers a solid performance as Colonel Ward, the New Republic officer who assigns Din his missions. However, the character ultimately feels underused. Despite Weaver bringing her usual screen presence to the role, Ward only appears in a handful of scenes, making it difficult to shake the feeling that almost any competent actor could have filled the part.

Our YouTube Review Of The Film

Overall

It has to be said that I went into this movie with very few expectations. Not because of the various opinions and reactions circulating online before its release, but because I felt that the final season of The Mandalorian had already told Din Djarin and Grogu’s story. As far as I was concerned, this was simply an extra adventure.

Thankfully, The Mandalorian and Grogu proved to be an entertaining one. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the film for what it is: a straightforward adventure story that successfully blends action, drama and comedy. The growing friendship between Rotta and Grogu is a joy to watch, while the scenes of Rotta competing in a gladiatorial-style arena are particularly well realised. I especially enjoyed Rotta’s unique fighting style and the way it is woven into several key moments throughout the story.

The film also delivers some impressive action sequences, including an exciting speeder chase through the cityscape of Shakari during the mission to rescue Rotta. While The Mandalorian and Grogu may not be essential viewing in the wider Star Wars saga, it is a solid, entertaining adventure that knows exactly what it wants to be.

No, it isn’t essential viewing. But it is bloody good fun.