This Is The Way: The Hyperbole Free Review of The Mandalorian and Grogu
The Mandalorian and Grogu have officially hopped from the small screen to the big screen, marking Star Wars’ official return to theaters after a seven-year drought. Based on the popular Disney+ streaming hit, The Mandalorian and Grogu elevate the heroic galactic team to an official duo after keeping the diminutive “baby Yoda” a secret ahead of the streaming show’s launch.
Set after the events of the streamer, The Mandalorian and Grogu takes place a few years after the destruction of the second Death Star in an era where the New Republic is attempting to reunite the galaxy while also expelling the remnants of the Galactic Empire from the universe. Din Djarin and Grogu are now exclusively in the employ of the New Republic, accepting jobs on their terms to track down war criminals and bring them to justice. The movie opens with one of these missions, an exciting action sequence set on a wintery Hoth-like planet. We see the Empire trying to desperately maintain a hold on systems where they can, but it’s clear they know their time is up. Partnering with Rebels hero Zeb, Din and Grogu take out Commander Baro, much to the dismay of Zeb and Din’s Republic contact Colonel Ward, played expertly by Sigourney Weaver, making her Star Wars universe debut, very much channeling a wartime Leia.
No sooner than they return to collect their bounty, Ward has another mission, this time a little more in the grey area, where Din and Grogu would need to work with the Hutts on a mission to find an important Imperial informant. It’s this mission that really sets off the core plot of the story.
Many people online are complaining that the movie just feels like a long episode of the show, and that’s because it’s inconsequential as a movie. While true, following the further adventures of Din Djarin and Grogu does feel a bit like an extension of the show, because it is. And so what? Director Jon Favreau and writer-producer Dave Filoni amp up the action, the set pieces, and the nods to classic- and new-era Star Wars enough to make the leap to the big screen a jump, not a hop. The movie feels big. The planets and set pieces are awesome. The cinematography, color palette, lighting, and sound are all significant steps up from the show, which in itself looks pretty terrific on its own.
Once the adventure proper begins, we get to see how Din and Grogu’s relationship has evolved. Grogu has grown up (a bit) and is now a full-fledged, Force-powered Mandalorian apprentice. The duo meets The Twins, Hutts who have consolidated power around information and treachery, whom have access to information about an important Imperial target, Lord Janu, which they are willing to trade for the recovery and return of their nephew Rotta, a cool throwback to The Clone Wars animated movie. Of course, this being the Star Wars galaxy underworld, there are lots of double-crossing, lies, and mysteries to uncover standing in the way of this mission.
The mission leads our heroes to an outer rim planet where Rotta is a celebrated gladiator working off a contract for Janu. This leads to a new partnership/friendship, a few great battles in the arena, and some fun set pieces, including a possible cameo from the main house of Skywalker Ranch? This was one of the most fun parts of this movie, picking up on hidden Easter eggs-it’s not overwhelming, it’s not heavy-handed, I thought it was just enough to make me smile as I recognized things sprinkled here and there.
Also, during the gladiator fight, I found myself as giddy as Grogu himself, diving into the popcorn bucket and snacking along as goofy Star Wars action unfolded in front of me. It was one of those moments of pure cinema joy that reminds us WHY we go to these movies. It forced me to reflect on decades of Star Wars fandom stretching back to the release of the prequels, where the internet empowered an army of toxic fans to have a voice, picking apart every decision they disagreed with, review bombing what they didn’t like, and even bullying women and POC off the internet because of their ire. These aren’t Star Wars fans to me. You don’t have to be an apologist, and you don’t have to love every story, every scene, even every show or movie, but to decide you hate something because it’s Disney or because it’s “woke”, or because, god-forbid, it features a woman or POC, is just ridiculous. I love all Star Wars, the good, the bad, and The Last Jedi.
Anyway, back to the adventure.
Din and Grogu and Rotta and Jeb continue to uncover the layers of deception at play here, and the fight against the Hutts intensifies. There are moments of genuine concern as the fate of our heroes is challenged at every turn. There are cool aliens, scary monsters, blaster fights, and even an aerial battle that keeps the adrenaline running.
We even get a late-movie breather where we see Grogu on his own, as a concerned son. As with Yoda before him, Grogu, this puppet, this collection of gears, plastic, and fabric, becomes a real being, something with feelings, emotions, and actions. I loved watching him be a son and a caregiver, and it tugged at my old dad’s heartstrings for sure. This is the way.
At its heart, Star Wars is about family. And more specifically and importantly, not just biological family, but the family you choose. Each of these stories in this universe, especially the best ones, has a familial connection central to the story. From Luke and Anakin, to Galen and Jyn, to Rotta and Jabba, and of course to Din Djarin and his adopted son Grogu, Star Wars is about family. And cool explosions and ships and stuff.
Speaking of ships, we get a new Razor Crest with a plausible explanation, but we still see the Naboo fighter at the Djarin homestead.
As we accelerate toward the film’s climax, we see how teamwork, ingenuity, and the desire to do what’s right fuel Din Djarin and Grogu. The odds stack up against them, the stakes get higher, and the battles more intense. I’ll let you experience the story on your own. Just know this is a fun, stand-alone adventure in a galaxy, far, far away. As they settle into the larger Star Wars universe working for the new Republic, we do lose a bit of that western, gunslinger aesthetic that had initially made the show so much fun. Although there are plenty of scenes of the Mandalorian dramatically entering a room to his signature musical cue.
Speaking of music, the score by Ludwig Göransson is incredible, including a fun, modern-sounding synth sound that he brings in alongside the classic score.
The Mandalorian and Grogu is a good Star War. It’s a thrilling big-screen adventure worthy of the most fun stories we’ve been told in this universe. It has everything you come to expect from Star Wars, great effects, cool creatures, practical and digital effects, cool ships, thrilling chases, big fights, and The Force. If you hate all things Disney Star Wars, nothing here is going to change your mind or loosen your hardened heart. Personally, I hope we get more adventures with this father-son duo. They, and we, deserve it. I have spoken.
