A review of 'Solo: A Star Wars Story', otherwise known as 'The Adventures of Han Solo and his trusty copilot, fan service'

'You like me because I'm a scoundrel. There aren't enough scoundrels in your life'- Han Solo (Harrison Ford), The Empire Strikes Back, 1980

Movies have made up a large part of my life recently. Having campaigned through the Marvel Cinematic Universe and its glorious messiness, I watched Deadpool 2 a few weeks ago and was utterly delighted by Ryan Reynolds once again portraying the foul-mouthed mercenary. I went into that film having read no reviews, meaning that I entered the cinema with a clean slate and was ready to see what kind of crazy misadventures Marvel were about to throw at me. This method was then used for Solo: A Star Wars Story, and even then it was a film that I had no great intention in seeing in the cinema. I love the franchise, and Han Solo holds a special place in my heart, for underneath the smirks and arrogance there's a deep desire to do the right thing. But the release of Solo comes at a time when I'm re-evaluating my feelings on The Last Jedi. While it is still a tale of the lower classes of galactic society rising up against tyranny, I find myself thinking more and more upon whether or not I actually liked the film. Some scenes were certainly enjoyable, such as Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Kylo's (Adam Driver) fight with the Elite Praetorian Guards, but that still didn't satisfy my desire for a good film. That old magical feeling I had when first watching the original trilogy has departed, and now I'm stuck with Disney cramming in as much CGI into the franchise as possible.

This isn't a rant about the 'fall' of Star Wars, as I hold so much love for the franchise that I couldn't possibly say that the new films ruin everything (not even the prequels could kill off Episodes 4, 5 and 6). Indeed, having these 'spin-offs' films in between Episodes 7, 8 and 9 is brilliant, since not only do we get even more films to watch, but also get to have some questions answered. The question of 'How did the Death Star plans really fall into the hands of the Rebel Alliance?' is not one that most would utter, but Rogue One: A Star Wars Story gave us the answer and did so brilliantly. New characters such as Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) are a testament to the early days of the Rebellion, and their desire for freedom drives them forward against impossible odds against the all-powerful Empire. Darth Vader (voiced by James Earl Jones) returns to once again stir up trouble, and the final scene of him making easy work of the Rebel troops is so gloriously brutal that while you feel compassion for the now deceased freedom fighters, you can't help but break into a smile and announce' Dude, this guy is a badass!'. With the bar set for these installments, Solo would have to live up to the expectations, and give our favourite smuggler the origin story he deserved.

I'm ready for more Star Wars to be forced down my throat 

So did they pull it off? I believe they did, but it would be unfair to compare Solo with Rogue One. Solo had plenty to work off, and both director Ron Howard (The Da Vinci Code, Apollo 13) and writers Lawrence Kasdan (who also wrote Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Empire Strikes Back) and his son Jonathan would have a checklist of things they would have needed to get through to make sure fans were satisfied. Howard came in to replace Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (The Lego Movie, 21 Jump Street) due to creative differences over whether this film would be comedic or just have a light touch of comedy. Lord and Miller do comedy well, and it's likely that Lucasfilm were worried that the film would fall flat if comedy was the main essence of this new Star Wars film. Then again, Thor got a brand new comedic twist in Thor: Ragnarok under the magnificently insane Taika Waititi (What We Do in the Shadows), and Han was always a laid back, easy-going character- would it have been that bad to see Han portrayed in a light heartened way? Hard to tell, but Howard still gives us a film that is clean and has no dramatic cuts in film to make you think if this really was a big budget film, or just a movie edited in someone's shed at 5 in the morning. Either way, the final product was just like the mysterious outlaw we met back in Mos Eisley; smooth.

I mentioned how certain goals had to be hit, and these goals would have been setting up the Star Wars universe to the point it was when A New Hope comes around. The start of Han (Alden Ehrenreich) and Chewbacca's (Joonas Suotamo) friendship, for example, was key as the iconic duo must have started somewhere. Han and Lando Calrissian's (Donald Glover) relationship is vital as well, as it was in that infamous game of sabaac that Han won Lando's ship, the Millennium Falcon, all for himself in pursuit of a life of danger and daring. Adding in some handy details about making the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs (a unit of distance, not time, as Solo explains) and that fan service checklist is done. Everybody rejoice! But throwing in nostalgia doesn't necessarily make a good movie. While TV shows like Stranger Things pride itself off making references to the 1980s, it is supported by an excellent cast in a thrilling story that has you screaming for more. Solo had the nostalgia factor, so it needed a cast and plot to make it more than a walk down memory lane.

Alden was a star in Hail, Caesar- could he do it again?

We meet the young Han on Corellia, living his life in the harsh underbelly of the crime-ridden planet. Making a living as a petty thief is all well and good, but this kid has dreams. Han envisions himself flying round the galaxy with his first love Qi'ra (Emilia Clarke) by his side, making money and living the high life. In the typical fashion of Han, he gets into trouble with not just one of the major crime bosses of Corellia, but the Empire as well. Han and Qi'ra, in their hot-wired speeder, escape from the gang pursuers but their failed bribery of an Imperial Officer with coaxium (powerful space fuel, basically) means that the two lovers are torn apart, with Han vowing to come back to Corellia and save his girl. Sadly, Han has to join the Imperial Navy as a cadet in order to make some money to fund his plan of rescue. It is here that, when Han tells the recruitment officer he has no family, the officer gives him the surname 'Solo'- and thus the mystery is solved! Three years down the line, his ambitions have fallen somewhat flat, as he fights on the muddy fields of Mimban due to being expelled from the Imperial Flight Academy because of a slight lack of respect for authority. His gift for finding trouble, on par with the likes of Harry Potter, leads him to a group of criminals, led by Tobias Beckett (Woody Harrelson). After a brief encounter with a grubby Chewbacca, Tobias takes them on board to partake in their heist for coaxium, in which Han can demonstrate his piloting skills and his steady nerve when under pressure to excel and stay calm.

Anyone else say 'Hang in there, Han?' Of course you did

Tobias is in the employment of Dryden Vos (Paul Bettany), a crime boss of the Crimson Dawn syndicate, with a face disfigured from a savage clawing, perhaps from a disgruntled bird or a former lover with very sharp nails. Qi'ra returns (slight spoiler, but you can't allow Emilia Clarke to only be in the film for the first 20 minutes) due to being in the service of Vos, and is tasked with travelling with Tobias' crew in a brand new heist that will make them all dirty stinking rich. In search for a ship, the crew cross paths with one Lando Calrissian, the suave, cape wearing owner of the fastest ship in the galaxy, the Millennium Falcon. On board the Falcon is Lando's copilot L3-37 (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), a droid determined to free droids from servitude, and ordained with remarkable navigational skills, not to mention a slight crush on Lando (and who can blame her!). With a pirate clan known as the Cloud Riders hot on their trail, and Vos posing a threat ominously in the distance (as any good crime boss should do), the stakes are high and Han is caught right in the middle of it all. It's a baptism of fire for the young smuggler, and is just the first chapter in a saga that will see him as a rich target for bounty hunters once the timeline reaches A New Hope.

Alden Ehrenreich has big shoes to fill, as the character of Han Solo was defined by Harrison Ford during the original trilogy and The Force Awakens. There was always a smirk on his face, and he never missed a chance to show off his arrogance. Ehrenreich, essentially, does a fine impression of Ford, which may draw criticism for just feeding off Ford's legacy, but when playing an iconic character with such a defining personality it is hard to take a new spin on it. It's great to see Han and Chewbacca strike up a fast friendship, and their last duo appearance in The Force Awakens (small spoiler, but surely you've seen it by now) makes it all a bit emotional. When these two first meet, Chewbacca is already 190, so knowing that he sticks by Han as he turns old and grey makes their relationship a very powerful mechanic. Seeing Chewbacca rip somebody's arms out of their sockets may seem quite violent for a film rated 12A, but at least we saw the rumour of Wookiees ripping the arms off their enemies. Han and Tobias have some excellent back and forth moments, and Harrelson plays Tobias well since he is used to playing grizzled gun slinging characters. Much like Ehrenreich, Donald Glover channels his inner Billy Dee Williams and portrays the young Lando with the same charm Williams did in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Vos is a typical crime boss, and it's clear that he's a very creepy guy with the way he acts around Qi'ra, yet is still menacing as he calmly threatens anyone who dares let him down. It's the calmness that makes it so menacing, as it shows how much power he has by getting things done without raising his voice. Clarke, as Qi'ra, plays a character so complicated and layered that I can't quite suss her out at all. She shares some good chemistry with Ehrenreich as the young Han, but is always reminding him of how she has done terrible things. She's still either deeply in love with Han, or is playing a game so elaborate that the Qi'ra who envisioned herself by Han's side as they travelled across the galaxy was left behind on Corellia. L3-37 brings a good deal of humour to Solo with her tireless campaign for equality. It's a very satisfying moment when she liberates a few droids to create a distraction, and while she is certainly no K-2SO (Alan Tudyk) from Rogue One, at least we have a droid that is leagues better than C-3PO.

Arise, robot comrades!

The cinematography, as I've already mentioned, moves smoothly throughout the roughly 135 minute run time. To keep audiences captivated for that long is challenge, but Ron Howard does well to present audiences a story to get mildly excited about. In a way, so many genres are mashed together to form this latest Star Wars spin-off that it cannot be specifically defined. Han and Qi'ra's days on Corellia feels as if they are two teenage lovers not living on a planet of criminals and degenerates, but in a small rural town looking to the bright lights of the city, towards a new life of adventure and excitement. Han's time on Mimban looks as if he is fighting in the First World War, as he tramps through the mud and midst to avoid shells and certain death. An officer is killed before Han's very eyes as he screams to fight for the good of the Empire, who are fighting to secure 'peace and prosperity'. It mirrors the old calls of 'For King and Country!' screamed by British officers as they led their troops over the top of the trenches and into the German machine guns. The heist of coaxium being transported by train on Vandor-1 was obviously based on the heists seen in old Western movies, as criminals chase down their prize on horseback. Shots ring out as battle rages all over the carriages, and the typical trope of completing the mission before the bridge gets blown up is added to up the tension and subtly nod to those old Western films. Meeting Dryden Vos on his flying yacht for the first time is very much an ode to crime dramas, with the rich and powerful meeting for an elaborate party while the host conducts deadly deals from behind the scenes. I'm surprised Vos didn't say 'You come to me, on the day of my daughter's wedding...' when negotiating with Team Han.

He's a guy we can trust... right?

There are, much like with every film, shortcomings to Solo. It would have been fascinating to see Han training in the Imperial Flight Academy in order to see his development as pilot, and also laugh as he defies authority due to being somewhat allergic to playing by the rules. The bad press of Lord and Miller's departure seemed to hang over the months leading up to the film's release last month as if it were a vengeful cloud, and unnerved fans with a fear that maybe this latest title in the saga would be a mess. Indeed, fatigue seems to be creeping up on the fan base as we sit through yet another Star Wars film. Much like with how I'm tired of Donald Trump doing/ saying something stupid, it's become a bit of a chore to keep up with the franchise now; that probably explains why I felt so neutral in seeing this film in the first place. We had Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels to satisfy our thirst for more action, but there have now been 4 films in the last 30 months or so. It's very overwhelming, and is similar to how many MCU films are being churned out since Disney and Marvel know how profitable each one will be. Is it possible that we feel obliged to go see every new Star Wars film, and Disney are just profiting off our deep love for the franchise? It's very likely- Disney sure loves their money.

An image feared by many 

The stakes presented in Solo is also a major criticism for the film, and unfortunately I have to compare it with Rogue One. The first spin-off in the franchise was heavily tied in with the main plot for A New Hope, as the iconic opening scene of an Imperial Star Destroyer pursuing a Rebel Frigate came about due to the likes of Jyn Erso risking her life to obtain the plans for the Death Star. While the main characters of Rogue One were new and didn't have the legendary status of Han and Chewbacca, their cause was noble, and their actions kick started the franchise we all know and love today. Solo felt as if it was just 'The Incredible Adventures of Han Solo', and didn't actually bring anything new to the table. We know where Han's story goes, and while mentioning a big score on Tatooine sets up the inevitable meeting with Jabba the Hutt, it's nothing to get too excited about because we already know it will end up with Han screwing him over. In Rogue One, we know that they get the plans, but at the start of the film we are unsure of what their fates will be. You can make an educated guess by the fact that they aren't mentioned in the original trilogy, but I doubt George Lucas in 1977 had already planned a lucrative deal with Disney that would see new trilogies and spin-offs to flesh out the lore and his income. Maybe the imagined pull a story of the origins of Han Solo would have over audiences was grossly over exaggerated, bringing into question whether or not a Han Solo origin story was a good idea in the first place.

Of course it was a good idea! Han Solo is an icon of the cinematic world, and even though Alden Ehrenreich essentially copies Harrison Ford's take on the outlaw, it's still a damn good impression nonetheless. The stories of an acting coach being hired to guide Ehrenreich through the film's production may add to the bad press of creative difficulties between Lord, Miller and Lucasfilm, yet the actor is only 28 years old, and has plenty of time to develop. Yet perhaps the impersonation is so good that the lack of character development of Han Solo in Solo is even more prevalent. It's funny to see that Han was always cocky and held himself in the highest regard, but it would have been great to see some sort of character development. Showing an even younger Han skulking the streets of Corellia, surviving through thieving and betraying the basic laws of morality, would have been a massive cliché, yet would at least give credit to how this smart mouthed rebel came about. Han has, and always will be, a man who keeps a few close friends (with Chewbacca firmly by his side at all times), brags of how he is the greatest pilot to have ever flown and constantly looks to the stars in search of fame and fortune. The only massive leap is that Qi'ra would be by his side as he made his fortune; now it's a Wookiee he met in the middle of a bloody battle. I guess the only lesson Han learned was 'bros before hoes'. But come on Han, it's Emilia Clarke!

Brown hair blonde hair, I don't care- she is stunning

Han's character development may have been severely limited, but it can be argued that his desire to travel with a companion was reaffirmed by interacting with the other two members of Tobias' crew: Val Beckett (Thandie Newton) and Rio Durant (Jon Favreau). These two minor characters leave a lasting reminder to Han of the importance of travelling with companions. Val and Tobias struck up a romantic relationship, and in a way it's an example for Han in what life would be like if he returns to Corellia and saves Qi'ra. The Becketts have seen and done a lot, with their chemistry demonstrating to Han that saving his young sweetheart will allow both of them to enjoy a profitable life together. Rio commonly expresses his regret in never finding 'the one', and for Han that surely hits home. Han has found his true love already (well, Princess Leia isn't around yet), and the remorseful Ardennian reminds Han the importance of finding someone to trust in such a violent and turbulent galaxy. Moreover, this lesson in finding people to trust means that Han values his budding friendship with Chewbacca even more, and as we know it's a friendship that lasts through so much. Even though Han always wanted to travel with someone by his side (don't let the name 'Solo' fool you), the two other member of Tobias Beckett's crew teach the young rogue in trust and friendship. What a lovely message to all the kids out there!

Remember kids, performing heists with your partner is a perfect activity for couples

Lovely messages aside, the main point to take away from Solo is that fan service is in abundance. The moment Han and Chewbacca take the front two seats of the Millennium Falcon is accompanied by a fast paced rendition of John William's iconic theme music, and gave me chills as this moment was the first time they had ever flown together. It was coming; Chewbacca had been patiently waiting for a while behind the copilot seat to jump in and prove his worth at the helm of a ship. There's certainly another moment that will leave die-hard fans with their jaws on the floor (no major spoilers here though!), and begins to flesh out what fans can expect from the next few installments of the Solo franchise within the Star Wars universe. The big score on Tatooine is on the horizon as well, and expect plenty more of the young Lando to steal every scene he is in with his vast cape collection and ability to charm his way out of all situations. With Hans' Kessel Run and a nod to the debate on 'Did Han shoot first?' all in there as well, those die-hard fans of the franchise will surely be appeased after the fallout from The Last Jedi. The old guard are fading fast, and a film about the origin story of a much loved character was the youthful injection the franchise needed.

Best looking 190 year old Wookiee I've ever seen 

How long, though, can the franchise live off fan service? Is there a point when it becomes stale, and fans will instead let out sighs of frustration and tiredness as yet another reference is made to the original trilogy, or even the prequels if needs be? Solo very much relies on these references, raising the question of whether this film really was an ambitious step in portraying a young Han Solo, or just a move to keep the die-hard fans happy. The aftermath of The Last Jedi shows how hostile some fans can be, as simple criticism of the film involved into outright abuse of Kelly Marie Tran, who played Rose Tico in the film. Her character Rose was condemned, and from there it turned into a tidal wave of abuse about her looks and her ethnicity. After months of abuse, she deleted all of her Instagram posts, yet fellow cast members and more tolerant Star Wars fans rose in support of her. While the likes of Paul Ray Ramsey (an Alt-Right vlogger) mock her weight and her Asian heritage, there are those out there with some sort of compassion for an actress just doing her job. Alden Ehrenreich will be judged on his apparent inability to fill the shoes of Harrison Ford, but that shouldn't lead to pure hatred. There are some salty fans out there, and hopefully some fan service can shut them up for a while.

Rose annoyed me too, but that's no reason to go after the actress

I doubt Solo: A Star Wars Story was made since Lucasfilm expected The Last Jedi to draw so much criticism and divide fans so dramatically. When the intention to make spin-offs were announced, fans wanted a Han Solo origin story, and now we have it. The reliance on fan service and the clear intention of Disney to create franchises within a franchise (as they did with the MCU) could make one interpret Solo to just be a cash grab; after all, this is the 4th Star Wars film since 2015. Fans used to have to wait for 3 years before they got a new film, and now they are being churned out at a rate comparable to rabbit birthing rates. There's plenty for fans to sink their teeth into, but it's all very overwhelming. Yet despite my tiredness and suspicion of being lured into yet another 'get rich quick' scam from Disney, I enjoyed Solo. Even though Ron Howard and the Kasdan duo play it safe with references and nods to the films of the past, it's just what we needed. A creative leap could have easily led to disaster, and perhaps they always knew that Rogue One has set the bar so high that they simply could not reach it.

Lando doesn't mind though 

Indeed, I may have enjoyed the film even more if my Star Wars loving companion and I had not been surrounded by children loudly eating their cinema snacks, pointing out the obvious and stamping their feet to either fight the urge to pee or because they were just bored. Sadly, that is the curse of going to an 11:15 screening on a Sunday, rather than the more favourable late afternoon/evening time slot. I know that all kids are a nightmare when in the cinema, but now that I'm old and full of hatred for the modern world, anything that a child does that I deem as annoying can only make me assume that they will grow up to be a great disappointment to their parents. At least Vue only charged £6.99 for VIP seats- amazing! It was a price worth paying to not only be home in time to watch Germany lose to Mexico (are my predictions in jeopardy already?), but to have some well earned fan service be presented before my very eyes. Solo: A Star Wars Story did exactly that- it can be classed as a criticism, but can we really stay mad at Han Solo?

Of course not- he is Indiana Jones as well, remember

Ben G 😁 xo

P.S. Argentina are in a bit of a pickle, aren't they? Still, just makes it that little bit easier for England if they don't qualify... if we qualify ourselves, that is.

'I'm surrounded by idiots'