Film Review - Solo: A Star Wars Story (12A)

I don't think I'm ever gonna learn.

I approach every new Star Wars film as a kind of fan. My appreciation of the franchise really only began with The Force Awakens, and I've been on board with the movies released since then - including the divisive, risk-taking The Last Jedi. But with Solo following so hard on the heels of Rey and Finn's most recent escapade, I did wonder if the producers weren't risking Wars-fatigue. Rumours of production troubles didn't inspire confidence either, with Ron Howard replacing the original directing team late in the day and reshooting a high percentage of the material. So it's a relief to report that this Han Solo origin story is never less than fun, even if it doesn't achieve what you might call Star Wars greatness.

We first meet young Han (the fresh-faced Alden Ehrenreich) as a slum-rat on his native planet Corellia. He's running dangerous errands for one of that world's dominating crime syndicates, while plotting a planet-hopping way out along with girlfriend Qi'ra (Game of Thrones' Emilia Clarke). The film's swift-moving early stages flip him through flight-school and military service, until he talks his way into a group of big-league thieves led by Woody Harrelson and Thandie Newton. But that's only the start of an adventure involving high-stakes robberies, giant inter-stellar beasties and spaceship manoeuvres so reckless they make his passengers' heads spin. 

Despite its bumpy journey to the screen Solo has a coherent feel, director Howard having reworked it with his mature storytelling touch. Numerous traditional Star Wars elements (multi-planet locations, inter-species menagerie of characters, comedy androids) are present, but this time in the context of a fast-paced heist movie crammed with criminals-u-like. And with all hand-guns/no light-sabres, the Han Solo space-western aspects are played up to entertaining effect. Yes the whole thing could be dismissed as inconsequential, but on a level of pure escapism the film really works.

That's not least because it's populated with great characters. Harrelson is morally enigmatic as career criminal Beckett, and Donald Glover is almost ridiculously suave as the young Lando Calrissian (classic Star Wars anti-hero if you're not a fan). Meanwhile Paul Bettany steals his limited screen-time as mercurial chief villain Dryden Vos, and Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge nearly steals the whole damn movie as robot-with-a-cause L3-37. 

As for Han himself, Ehrenreich plays him with youthful arrogance and verve, steering clear of any ill-advised Harrison Ford impersonations. And if he doesn't quite nail the cocky charm that made Ford's roguish-pilot such a hit with audiences (a tall order let's face it), at least the movie gets the Han/Chewie relationship right. The manner of their initial meeting is an unexpected delight, and the heart of the film - romantic subplots notwithstanding - is the beginning of this inter-species bromance. Our hero may be advised by his criminal mentor to trust no one, but in Chewbacca he clearly has a cast-iron BFF.

Solo suffers at times from prequel-itus (its nods and winks to the broader franchise can irritate at times), but it tells enough of its own story in a sufficiently distinctive way to warrant its existence. And while we know for sure who's going to make it through, due to certain characters' presence in the classic trilogy, there's enough plot novelty to sustain interest and a sense of mortality in keeping with the franchise as a whole. It's a touch of darkness in a big escapist romp - two perfectly entertaining hours in the company of some Star Wars favourites.

Gut Reaction: Sustained enjoyment, with a few grins of recognition (and one or two eye-rolls).

Where Are the Women?: The new Star Wars continues to populate its stories with strong female characters - Clarke, Newton, Waller-Bridge and big-screen newcomer Erin Kellyman all have room to shine.

Ed's Verdict: 7/10. It deals in themes of loyalty, friendship and moral conflict, but chiefly this exists to be fun. And perfectly decent fun it is. Enough said.