You know how much we love an Outposter contribution here at the Last Movie Outpost. And, because we have reached that age where doctors like to poke us, prod us, and insert things into us, we also value a second opinion. So now we get to combine both things, thanks to Outposter PoopyPants and his trip to the theater to see The Mandalorian & Grogu.
The Mandalorian & Grogu
Hello. A sudden unplanned viewing and an even more unplanned review!
I wasn’t even planning to see The Mandalorian & Grogu. But a last-minute cancellation of plans, several free hours, and since the government down here in Australia now requires a gait-analysis scan and a blood sacrifice just to look at boobs online, I found myself standing outside a cinema going “Eh, fuck it!”
I loved the first two seasons of The Mandalorian. Genuinely. I messaged old friends telling them to check out this new Star Wars show. I even got slightly emotional when Luke Skywalker showed up and took the little green fucker away, and Mando revealed his face for the goodbye.
Or at least that’s when he should have revealed his face. They were contractually obligated to sneak little peeks earlier for Pedro’s show reel. Good thing too, otherwise we’d never know who Pedro Pascal is, and we’d be begging for him to appear in more movies.
After that, though? Brothers, I have no idea what show I was watching anymore.
At some point, the best episode of The Mandalorian became an episode of The Book of Boba Fett. That’s the kind of showrunning behaviour that makes your brain check out. If they’re treating continuity like a napkin covered in scribble and cocaine powder, why should I be taking notes?
So how’s the movie?
It’s… okay.
Calling it “pointless” feels too harsh because I didn’t hate it at all. Honestly, I think it’s probably the best Disney Star Wars movie since Rogue One, which sounds like huge praise until you remember the competition is space casino detours and bringing big characters back from death through the magic of corporate panic.
The real issue is that this doesn’t feel like a movie. It feels like five episodes pretending to be a movie. The runtime is only about two hours, but it felt like three.
There’s action. Lots of monsters. Plenty of fan service and absolutely no reason for Grogu to be carried around through any of it, except for the little kids. I hope all the cute little animals that get blasted in the crossfire don’t traumatize any of them. The funny little screams should help show them it’s meant to be funny, right?
Reddit users will be pointing at the screen screaming “I know that guy!”
It’s fine. It’s entertaining but just cluttered. Like eating a family-size bag of chips for dinner. You’re satisfied but feeling a little malnourished. Do I recommend it?
Meh. If you want to see “a Star Wars thing” on the big screen, sure. Go nuts. Otherwise, just wait until it drops on Disney+ where it’ll probably feel more natural pausing between Episode 4: Surprise Character Cameo and Episode 5: Sneaky Producer Cameo.
I really don’t have much bad to say about it overall. Except that salt kills slugs, and Dave Filoni should stay behind the camera. FFS man!
4 Baby Yodas out of 5.
