Is 'Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu' worth watching?
How fans are reacting to the latest 'Star Wars' entry
By Poch Eulalia
THIS IS THE WAY 'The Mandalorian and Grogu' follows the iconic duo as they go on an adventure to the Outer Rim (Photo: Disney)
In the furthest reaches of the galaxy, anything goes. There are countless possibilities and infinite ways to mess things up. In the case of “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu,” it leans dangerously close to the latter but still has enough draw to charm general audiences.
It’s wild to think we’ve gone seven years without a “Star Wars” movie on the big screen. After the divisive end of the sequel trilogy, the franchise took a turn and opted to switch to producing television series instead. While there are now countless series for fans to enjoy, the hype for live-action “Star Wars” series all began with “The Mandalorian.” At the time of its release, the show felt like a fresh take and offered a different perspective on familiar settings. Showrunners Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni took extra care to ensure things stayed lore-accurate and took just enough from the films to draw people in. Now, after three seasons of following the Mandalorian and his little companion Grogu, the duo is taking a big leap by gunning for the big screen.
SWOLE SON Rotta the Hutt is the runaway son of the notorious Jabba (Photo: Disney)
Normally, a television series getting the movie treatment means higher production value and promises of a grand spectacle small-screen budgets can’t spring for. “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” has the unique problem of already being such a high-quality series that giving it the big screen treatment feels unnecessary. As many fans online have voiced out, the movie feels like four episodes stitched together to make one movie. This is both the movie’s weakness and strength. For fans of the show, it’s a chance to catch your favorite duo on their grand adventure on the big screen. Its plot is relatively simple to follow, with Mando and Grogu working as bounty hunters for the New Republic. They are tasked with finding Rotta, the son of galactic crime lord Jabba the Hutt, to surrender him over to his aunt and uncle.
For each little quest the two get sent off to, we are treated to well-choreographed action sequences that leave you glued to the screen. Of course, Grogu’s cuteness also balances the adrenaline-heavy scenes with his cutesy antics. Both are given a fair amount of time to shine on their own, letting viewers see just how far their bond has grown through the years. With every emotional moment, Ludwig Göransson’s score also does quite the heavy lifting in setting the mood.
GALACTIC DRIP World Balance's Harlow Grogu shoes
While some might say you’re better off waiting for it to pop up on Disney+, we recommend joining a fan screening to feel the hype. We certainly felt the excitement from the crowd during World Balance’s special screening held at Greenhills Mall. Aside from the joy of fans from watching the movie, there was also a level of excitement over some lucky fans taking home World Balance’s limited edition “Star Wars” merch. Fortunately, for those who didn’t win, they can still get the merch from the physical stores or online. There are shoes, accessories, and apparel with designs inspired by the Mandalorian and Grogu. Our personal favorites are the Harlow Grogu and Kyro Mandalorian shoes for their sleek designs and clean, cream colors. It’d be a perfect fit to have while watching the film.