Solo, the latest installment in the growing Star Wars catalog, is a PG-13 rated adventure
story that offers us a lot more of the light side then the Dark Side. Indeed,
this may be the most lighthearted of all of the Star Wars films to date, at
least since the original film, now known as Episode
IV, A New Hope. In its tone, though certainly not its plot, Solo
more closely resembles the first Spielberg/Lucas collaboration, Raiders of the Lost Ark.
This picture is a perfect summer entertainment. It’s got
action, attractive characters, powerful (but not too scary) comic book-style villains and - between the chases,
fights and space battles - plenty of humor, although not so much as, say, the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. Before
its release, in fact, a lot of the news about Solo had to do with a drama in
the midst of the production: the original directors, Phil Lord and Christopher
Miller [The Lego Movie (2014)] were
fired because of “creative differences” – they wanted to make an out-and-out
comedy – and replaced by Ron Howard [A
Beautiful Mind (2001), Apollo 13
(1995), Willow (1988)], who was more sympathetic
to the nuanced mix of humor, character and action favored by the producers.
Good choice, I think.
I won’t say much about the plot other than that it takes
place in an interstellar world that has not yet come under the oppressive thumb
of an overarching evil Empire; but one that is ruled instead by thieves, power-hungry
schemers and vast, amoral mega-cartels. And as I am sure you know, Solo
is a prequel to the primary Star Wars
saga, kind of an origin story about the young Han Solo. Not that it goes all
the way back to his birth or childhood; rather, it begins with Han as a very young
man, perhaps twenty or so.
[Quiz: Before we go any further, what is the correct
pronunciation of Solo’s first name? Is it Han with an ă
as in ‘man’ or ‘Dan’? or with an ŏ sound as in ‘swan’
or ‘gone’? Answer below.]
The big question, of course, is does the new Han Solo make
the grade? In my opinion, Alden Ehrenreich [Hail
Caesar (2016)] was a terrific choice to play the young Han, despite the
fact that he doesn’t much physically resemble Harrison Ford - even the young
Harrison Ford, who was just 34 years old when the first Star Wars film was shot
in 1976. Ford had that trademark smirk; Ehrenreich, just 27 during the filming
of Solo, doesn’t. (Ehrenreich also is 4 inches shorter than Ford – although I
didn’t notice this discrepancy until Mick LaSalle pointed it out in his review
of Solo,
after I’d already seen the movie; and I doubt most other viewers will notice
either.)
None of this matters. The production folks gave Ehrenreich
the right haircut and clothes (vest, tight pants, western-style blaster holster);
and screenwriters Lawrence Kasden [The Empire
Strikes Back (1980), Raiders of the
Lost Ark (1981), The Big Chill (1983)]
and his son Jonathan Kasden provided good, character-appropriate Solo dialogue.
Mostly, though, it’s because Ehrenreich has got the acting chops and screen
charisma to recreate the swagger, the brash overconfidence and the roguish charm
that is Han Solo. He may not have Harrison Ford’s leer, but Ehrenreich has the
knack to deliver the goods.
But there is more. We also get to meet the young Lando Calrissian.
Narcissistic, flamboyant Lando - appealingly played by Donald Glover (Atlanta), channeling the winsome Billy
Dee Williams - has got money, an extravagant lifestyle and a reputation as a high-stakes
gambler and trader. He’s also got something that Han wants: a hot rod light-freighter
called the Millennium Falcon. What about the Wookie, you ask? I know you’ve always wondered how in hell Han
Solo met Chewbacca and how they become friends. Well, Solo has got answers for
you; and we get to see Chewie as a (slightly) younger, more svelte Wookie here.
There are new characters too – led by the ubiquitous Woody
Harrelson as a tough intergalactic thief called Beckett. I’m not sure how he does it but Harrelson, reputedly one of the most laid-back actors in Hollywood off-screen, is always interesting and frequently commanding on-screen. Here, too. Han falls under his sway (like the rest of
us).
There is also Thandie Newton as Beckett’s girlfriend-partner, Val; and Emelia
Clarke as Han’s love, Qi’ra – both good. The chief villain of the piece, the
evil, organized crime boss Dryden Vos, is coldly and capably played by Paul
Bettany [The Da Vinci Code (2006), Master and Commander (2003), voice of
J.A.R.V.I.S. in the Iron Man series etc.].
Meanwhile, Phoebe Waller-Bridge is the voice of the wonderful robotic creation
L3-37, a hard-ass female robot pal of Lando’s, who makes you forget that C-3PO
and R2-D2 are not around. Not that she’s a cutesy comic relief robot; no - more
like a feminine action hero with sass, verve and (literal) nerves of steel.
Thankfully, no Jar Jar Binks and no Ewoks, nor any similar irritations.
Also, only a few small snatches of John Williams - just enough to be evocative,
yet far short of annoying. At 2 hours 15 minutes, it is about fifteen minutes
too long, but other than that Solo is a fun and entertaining addition
to the Star Wars empire - a nice mix of action and humor, and a story that answers
a few 40-year-old questions.
Solo may not satisfy the most obsessive of SW addicts or the
most serious art house cinephiles, but for the rest of us, it’s a pretty darn decent
summer movie.
135 minutes. Rated
PG-13
Grade B+
In general release.
[As to the correct
pronunciation of ‘Han’, it has been confused for some time. George Lucas
apparently used the ă version, rhyming Han with pan or man. But in his very
first appearance in 1977, Harrison Ford’s Solo pronounced his first name to
rhyme with swan, gone or bon bon. Luke Skywalker followed suit, but Princess Leia
went back and forth and Lando Calrissian persisted in rhyming Han with pan
(perhaps to make sure his own name was not pronounced as Londo). In Solo, Han tries to clarify the issue,
but Calrissian is apparently a slow learner – as evidenced by this clip.]
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