From Newsgroup: alt.fan.starwars


Not that anyone with any sense will care, since critics are morons anyway.


'The Mandalorian and Grogu' Gets Divided First Reactions,
From a 'Thrilling Adventure' to 'One of the Weakest Star Wars Movies'
and a 'Snooze Fest'
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"Star Wars" has officially returned to the big screen courtesy of
"The Mandalorian and Grogu," and members of the film press are
calling the franchise's comeback "a thrilling adventure," "a perfect
summer movie" and "a lot of fun," although overall reactions are
divided.

"It's less about the lore and more a fun, freaky romp across the
galaxy. I really dug that about it," Fandango's Erik Davis posted on
X in one of the most positive takes. "Also really dug Ludwig
Goransson's score, especially the parts that felt like an homage to
'80s synth-driven horror and action thrillers... It reminded me how fun
'Star Wars' can be when it stops worrying about canon homework and
just cuts loose. Treat it like a pulpy Saturday matinee ride and
you'll have a blast."

Puck News' box office columnist Scott Mendelson called the movierC>
"a solid line drive past second base, with lots of 'Neat... haven't
seen that in a STAR WARS before' charm."

More mixed reactions came courtesy of i09's Germain Lussier, who said
the movie feels like "a longer, bigger episode of the show" it's
based on, writing: "It has one or two stand out scenes but it feels
much more interested in developing the story to new locations with
new creatures than the characters. Enjoyed some of it, left frustrated
but the rest."

Collider's Peri Nemiroff shared criticism of Rotta the Hutt, voiced by
"The Bear" Emmy winner Jeremy Allen White. "Live action Hutts are a
challenge to pull off, a gladiator Hutt even more so, and it didn't
help that Rotta's dialogue was often too on the nose," she posted.
"He did grow on me, but it feels like there was a more compelling way
to convey his place in the world and his mission."

"One of the weakest 'Star Wars' movies," reporter Jonathan Sim wrote.
"An emotionless, predictable experience that doesn't push Din Djarin
anywhere interesting. Dull, unexciting fight scenes; just CGI monsters.
Action figures mashed together. A long, colorless made-for-TV movie."

A continuation of the beloved Disney+ series "The Mandalorian," the new
"Star Wars" movie centers on the the adventures of Pedro Pascal's
bounty hunter Din Djarin. Per the official synopsis: "The evil Empire
has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the
galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the
Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary
Mandalorian bounty hunter Din and his young apprentice Grogu."

Joining Pascal and White in the movie is Sigourney Weaver. Jon Favreau,
who created the Disney+ series, directs the film and co-writes
alongside Noah Kloor and new Lucasfilm boss Dave Filoni.

"The Mandalorian and Grogu" arrives in theaters at an important time
for "Star Wars." The franchise has been away from movie theaters since
the polarizing 2019 release of "The Rise of Skywalker" and filled up
the interim with streaming series, from "The Mandalorian" to "The Book
of Boba Fett," "Ahsoka," "Andor," "The Acolyte" and more. Furthermore,
longtime Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy departed the studio
earlier this year and "The Mandalorian and Grogu" marks the first
theatrical release under new bosses Filoni and Lynwen Brennan.

"The Mandalorian and Grogu" opens in theaters May 22.


- "The Mandalorian and Grogu: the marketing had me worried, but this
movie is actually a lot of fun. Yes it does feel like a supersized
high budget few episodes of the tv show - more of an adventure of
the week than a huge galactic event story. If you like the show
you'll love this...."
Peter Sciretta (@PeterSciretta) May 15, 2026

- "#TheMandalorianAndGrogu is a ton of fun! A perfect Summer movie.
Action-packed with a lot of humor & heart. Not episodic. A fully
cinematic journey. Grogu steals the show. See it on the biggest
screen possible."
Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) May 15, 2026

- "The Mandalorian and Grogu is...fine? An inoffensive, technically
impressive spectacle that's kinda a snooze fest. Very much
structured like an abridged season of the tv show which
unfortunately plays like watching the cutscenes of a Star Wars
video game instead of playing one...."
Griffin Schiller (@griffschiller) May 15, 2026

- "#TheMandalorianAndGrogu is a grin-inducing crowd-pleaser that
puts Star Wars back on theatrical track. Director Jon Favreau is
(again) a safe pair of hands that deliver a solid, thrilling and
engaging romp. A solid popcorn movie that is the summer
blockbuster you're looking for."
Simon Thompson (@ShowbizSimon) May 15, 2026

- "#TheMandalorianAndGrogu is one of the weakest Star Wars movies.
An emotionless, predictable experience that doesn't push Din
Djarin anywhere interesting. Dull, unexciting fight scenes; just
CGI monsters. Action figures mashed together. A long, colorless
made-for-TV movie."
Jonathan Sim (@TheJonathanSim) May 15, 2026

- "#TheMandalorianAndGrogu: I am just defenseless against Grogu.
(And the Anzellan droidsmiths.) Irresistibly cute and also a
filmmaking feat I cannot get enough of. Rotta the Hutt? Not as
much. Live action Hutts are a challenge to pull off, a gladiator
Hutt even more so, and it..."
Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) May 15, 2026

- "#TheMandalorianandGrogu is as expected. A longer, bigger episode
of the show. It has one or two stand out scenes but it feels much
more interested in developing the story to new locations with new
creatures than the characters. Enjoyed some of it, left
frustrated but the rest."
Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) May 15, 2026

- "Criticism and nitpicks aside, #TheMandalorianAndGrogu is a solid
line drive past second base, w/ lots of "Neat... haven't seen that
in a STAR WARS before" charm. And yes, I asked my son to come for
demographic research purposes (bribed him w/ Toothsome Chocolate
Emporium)."
Scott Mendelson (@ScottMendelson) May 15, 2026

- "STAR WARS is back on the big screen and #TheMandalorianAndGrogu
is a thrilling adventure full of big fights, gnarly creatures and
plenty of adorable Grogu moments. It's less about the lore and
more a fun, freaky romp across the galaxy. I really dug that about
it. Also really dug..."
Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) May 15, 2026

- "I liked #MandalorianAndGrogu way more than I expected. The first
half felt like what I thought it'd be, but I did not expect to
love Rotta the Hutt as much as I did. And seeing Grogu be the hero
was great. Star Wars on the big screen just feels right."
Joseph Deckelmeier (@joedeckelmeier) May 15, 2026



<https://variety.com/2026/film/news/mandalorian-and-grogu-first-reactions-star-wars-pedro-pascal-1236748352/>




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