In some ways, this film is incomprehensible: “What do you mean this takes place after Season 3 of a show I never watched?”
In some ways, it’s irresponsible: “So, this story is about a bounty hunter carting around his not-legally-obtained telekinetic alien toddler doing basically anything that doesn’t resemble childcare. Have I got that right?”
And in some ways, it’s just disturbing: “The bounty-hunter-surrogate-father-guy … he only appears in cosplay? Was child rearing even a thing a long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away?”
Welcome to the world of The Mandalorian and Grogu, the most delightful film you’ll see this year so long as your brain is off and your parental instincts can be kept at bay. Just expect that this professional bounty hunter will get in life-and-death situations with his child. It’s not just that they happen; he actively seeks them. This is the way.
For the Star Wars impaired, “The Mandalorian” is part of an ancient race of loner bounty hunters. From what I can tell, most Mandalorian folk find morals a nuisance, but our hero (Pedro Pascal, not that it matters for all you see or hear the man) seems to have drive to protect and nurture Grogu, the weird force-using alien puppet child he was suppose to kill in episode one. The premise would be the first to point out the giant difference between what a mother means to protect and nurture and what a bounty hunter means to protect and nurture. For instance, this film begins with The Mandalorian shooting up a bad guy stronghold with his tiny ward Grogu guarding the exit retreat. It’s all very exciting, even if you allow for the fact that this isn’t stellar parenting.
But how else are you gonna show your toddler how to take down an AT-AT single-handedly, huh? [Did I mention The Mandalorian is a really good bounty hunter? He is.]
The Mandalorian works for the New Republic to hunt down bad guys. He takes a contract to collect the elusive Commander Coin, an unknown face to the new overlords, the only clue being that the Hutts know something about Coin. Yeah, that’s right, remember Jabba the Hutt? The huge
worm villain who collected the carbonite version of Han Solo? Well, his siblings now run their own gangster organization, you know, hey, good for them. And Jabba’s son Rotta (voice of Jeremy Allen White) has been “abducted.” The sibs will give intel on Coin with the return of Rotta.
And, of course, Rotta hasn’t really been abducted; he’s fighting Intergalactic MMA death matches because of course he is. This is the world into which we’ve thrown our cosplay hero and the telekinetic green sock that trails him around.
It’s a lot of fun … if you don’t think about it too hard. In fact, there’s only one section of The Mandalorian and Grogu that proved too much for me. The film has a lot of Grogu. And I mean A LOT. The non-speaking mini-Yoda has quite a personality. For one thing, it’s always eating. Always. At one point in the narrative, Grogu is essentially on his own and, let’s face it, he and his li’l mechanic pals look and act like muppets. Cute? Yes. Adorable? A bit. But, for me, every ounce of personal disbelief got chucked out the galaxy during that time. You can play puppets all you like, but don’t expect me to suspend my disbelief any longer going forward.
That said, this movie is fun. It will entertain both child and adult. You don’t need to know the background of anything to enjoy it. But it kinda helps if you do. i.e. this could be your starter film to the Star Wars universe. And, if I’m being honest, is the parenting here any worse than that which we see in The Breadwinner? Probably not.
There once lived a warrior and his sock
The latter, a sentient, green, tiny frock
The two collect bounties
From intergalactic counties
That they survive might give one a shock
Rated PG-13, 132 Minutes
Director: Jon Favreau
Writer: Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Noah Kloor
Genre: Puppetry
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: Do you have an affinity for adorable puppets?
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: Spoil-sports
