REVIEW: SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY Reminds Fans Why We Love Star Wars

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Solo: A Star Wars Story‘s balanced narrative and splendid action
sequences make this release a helluva good time.

While Solo has had its fair share of attention (both negative and
positive), one can’t help but be smitten by the film. Rogue One is a
good time but certainly has a purpose to serve. Solo: A Star Wars Story
has a transformative effect on the audience. As fans sit down to watch
the release, they will be whisked back to a time when their buddies
would take the Millennium Falcon (or a Lando Calrissian action figure)
and create crazy scenarios, only to be victorious in the end. Director
Ron Howard‘s latest release reminds us why as kids we all became fans
of Star Wars and did so in a joyous way.

The narrative centers around the origins of Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich)
from his days smuggling on Corellia with his girlfriend Qi’ra (Emilia
Clarke) and how a trip to the planet Mimban was life-changing. There he
meets up with a band of low-lives lead by career criminal Beckett
(Woody Harrelson) and proceeds to join their crew. We see how Han met
Chewbacca (now played by Joonas Suotamo) and, more importantly, find
out how Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover) first became a part of Han’s
world.

Ehrenreich proves he’s more than up to the challenge of playing Han
Solo. His performance maintained the sarcasm and wit which Harrison
Ford brought to the role. What was striking is the amount vulnerability
he showed in the film. It certainly seems that, over the course of this
film and the inevitable sequel to follow, we will learn how Solo became
so cynical.

Clarke’s efforts certainly makes fans forgive her missteps during the
last Terminator film. The chemistry between Solo and Qi’ra is off the
charts. Her love for the Corellian smuggler is undeniable and is only
surpassed by a need to survive. Clarke’s character is much more
complicated, and her allegiances are certainly put to the test during
the film. The warmth Qi’ra projects onscreen and the conflict in her
actions will draw audiences right in.

Glover’s portrayal of Lando Calrissian is so fantastic and brings
clarity to all the chatter about a possible film about one of our
favorite scoundrels. Some of my favorite moments in the movie come when
Lando is holding court while playing cards. He brings such smugness and
bravado to the role that it was if Glover was channeling Billy Dee
Williams while onscreen. Harrelson and Paul Bettany also bear
mentioning as each bring essential elements to the narrative.
Harrelson’s character becomes sort of a mentor to Han, while Bettany
indeed embraces his darker side in the role of gangster Dryden Vos.

Lawrence Kasdan and Johnathan Kasdan struck a perfect balance between
the humor and grandeur of the ever-expanding Star Wars universe. One of
my highlights is how, right off the bat, Kasdan highlights the scheming
ways of Solo and his future co-pilot Chewbacca as they escapes from two
Imperial guards. The storyline also lays plausible circumstances which
initially lead to the infamous Kessel run fans have heard about for
years. Could the father and son writing duo not spend enough time
establishing Han and Qi’ra’s connection? Yes, but that’s just a small
critique of what was a highly enjoyable tale.

Howard shows such a steady hand (especially under these circumstances),
and the result was a quality final product for all. The pace of Solo
doesn’t seem rushed, allowing for little drag. Bradford Young’s
cinematography utilized an earthy color palette that gives the film a
dated look (remember this is supposed to take place before Episode IV).
Young makes a point to bring the camera in ever so close, capturing
those intimate details of the Millennium Falcon. Neil Lamont’s
production design had a realistic yet worldly look to it. None of the
buildings seem out of place, and all of them blend into these new
worlds.

Overall, Solo: A Star Wars Story is a terrific ride and embodies
everything fans love about this universe. It’s certainly worth your
time this weekend and undoubtedly safe to bring children to.

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