As a Star Wars fan, it feels surreal to be excited about a movie theater experience less than a decade after The Rise of Skywalker‘s disappointing commercial and critical performances seemed to threaten a significant shutdown for the foreseeable future. With one of the worst endings in sci-fi movie history, the last film in the sequel trilogy is infamous today.
The trilogy is a set of movie sequels that betrayed the audience, but 7 years after it ended, especially because of shows like The Mandalorian and Andor, the Star Wars franchise is back to generating buzz for theatrical releases. With The Mandalorian & Grogu set to release later this year and Ryan Gosling’s Starfighter on the horizon, fans are excited.
So, in my excitement for the year ahead, I finally completed the marathon of every Star Wars movie that I’ve been meaning to for a while now. Watching the movies in a new order was eye-opening, and I discovered a surprising truth about a movie I’d been unfair to. Solo: A Star Wars Story is much better than I remember!
Solo Is The Most Forgotten Star Wars Movie
Even fans who rewatch the sequel trilogy every year during annual marathons often skip this movie that many have forgotten exists. Directed by Ron Howard, Solo marks the first box-office failure of the Star Wars movie franchise in its 41-year history at that point. Sequel fatigue and mismatched expectations led to the movie being commercially panned all over the world.
With a 69% Rotten Tomatoes score, the movie is certified fresh, though. It’s a prequel spin-off about the origins of Han Solo that explores how he made his most enduring bonds before the original trilogy began. Solo is a fun Star Wars adventure that many come to love in repeat viewings because it emulates the mood of the original movies.
Solo Brings The Caper Genre To Star Wars
There are few other kinds of movies I enjoy more than heist films. The eternally existent element of surprise, the popular gimmicks associated with the genre, the personalities of the characters involved, the witty use of twists, the lighthearted tone, and the sense of adventure make crime caper movies the best form of entertainment after a long and tiring day.
Han Solo’s unending confidence doesn’t just make him appealing, but also makes him the ideal man to make a caper about, since his idea of allegiance is forever shifting until he’s forced to join the rebellion. So, watching him and a ragtag crew improvise and execute daring stunts and double-crosses while delivering memorable one-liners makes for a great viewing experience.
It also takes Star Wars back to its Western roots, since capers and heist movies began with the Westerns of old Hollywood. While it doesn’t have the same grittiness, albeit with a few ill-conceived attempts at commentary, Solo is the perfect thrill-seeking adventure you’d want from a movie about young Han Solo that captures the rogue-like essence of his life.
Solo’s Flaws Aren’t As Big As I Remember
While the intent is there, Solo is weakest when it tries to acknowledge the darker nature of the Empire’s regime and explore gloomy subplots. Yet, it treats death with sincerity, developing character moments to better create an engaging narrative. The biggest flaw of the movie is its desperate attempt to offer unnecessary explanations for plot points in the original trilogy.
However, most of the references, while on-the-nose, are through throwaway lines that only mildly bothered me this time. The dimly lit cinematography is the most distracting element of Solo, though, and it’s hard to overlook. However, as Kathleen Kennedy notes about Solo: A Star Wars Story, the real reason it flopped is it was made too soon after Han’s controversial death.
Solo Perfectly Captures Han Solo’s Personality
The biggest challenge in making a spin-off about young Han Solo was capturing the essence that Harrison Ford brought to life in his breakout role in 1977. The disarming charm, the borderline aggressive faith in himself, the rough and casual attitude, and the ability to wear his heart on his sleeve make Ford’s Han a universally beloved Star Wars character.
I couldn’t be more satisfied with Alden Ehrenreich’s interpretation of the character, though. He has an unending reserve of confidence, a disregard for order, an uncanny ability to improvise, and the familiar boyish charm that wins over Princess Leia in the future. The forced references to the original trilogy are in bad taste, but Solo‘s cheesiness perfectly complements Han’s personality.
Solo Has A Great Ensemble Cast
Rediscovering how stacked the cast of the movie is also another reason I enjoyed Solo: A Star Wars Story on this rewatch. Ehrenreich’s chemistry with Emilia Clarke makes Solo’s romance with Qi’ra compelling. It was also great revisiting Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s turn as a Star Wars drone with a fully realized arc that did deserve better as a means of commentary.
Paul Bettany, Woody Harrelson, and Thandiwe Newton deliver solid performances that add depth to the world and make their characters feel fleshed out. Donald Glover is lovable as Lando Calrissian, and does justice to Billy Dee Williams’ turn in The Empire Strikes Back. Solo also has the most screentime for Chewbacca in Star Wars history, so what’s not to like?