The Mandalorian & Grogu (2026) Film Review

Film Details

Director: Jon Favreau 

Run Time: 2hr 12m

Cast: Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, Jeremy Allen White, Steve Blum, Martin Scorsese, Jonny Coyne

Synopsis

Now working for the New Republic, The Mandalorian and Grogu are tasked which tracking down imperial warlords scattered across the galaxy.

My Review

There is no denying that Jon Favreau’s take on a Star Wars blockbuster is both entertaining and enjoyable, but unfortunately it’s a story that is ‘far far away’ from being worthy of the transition to the big screen. Put simply, it is a side quest journey for the titular characters that is reminiscent of a filler episode found in an ordinary season of television.

Some might say Grogu is a Disney marketing tool, an industry plant, or a cash grab merchandising tactic, well I say if that’s the case, then consider me duped by the Disney capitalistic machine because boy do I love that little guy! I enjoyed seeing the puppetry in action and although it looks a little more stiff in its execution, the more traditional approach just works brilliantly and is far more preferable to CGI. I will always enjoy seeing Mando and Grogu together, so no matter how simplistic or uninventive the storyline can be, their relationship will always captivate audiences who have become so accustomed to the pair on screen. 

I thought the technical elements of the film were particularly impressive, moments of really nice cinematography partnered with a wonderful musical score by Ludwig Goransson! But as I mentioned earlier, the storyline was far from fulfilling and it actually feels like a betrayal to fans of the show who have invested so much time into the intwining build up between The Mandalorian and Ahsoka, leading to a huge crossover to face Thrawn, just to be presented with a minor side quest designed for mass appeal, targeting audiences who haven’t seen the show! Let’s call it what it is, an expensive cash grab! Favreau has spoken about the movie budget allowing them to bring a creature like Rotta the Hutt to life, but did we really need him? At least give him the traditional Hutt accent, Rotta speaks in the most plain English possible, going against everything we have seen prior. An intriguing character, sure, but worthy of a filler episode only.

It’s clear the original plans for a season 4 were far better than what we were presented with here, the quicker they revert back to concluding the overarching storyline, the better. Yes, not everything has to be this large interconnected story, but at least show the audience who have committed so much time into the series, some respect! An enjoyable, but far from great return to the big screen for Star Wars.

My Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Thanks for reading.

Film Review Club