‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ Gets Divided First Reactions, From a ‘Thrilling Adventure’ to ‘One of the Weakest Star Wars Movies’ and a ‘Snooze Fest’

“Star Wars” has officially returned to the big screen courtesy of “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” and members of the film press are calling the franchise’s comeback “a thrilling adventure,” “a perfect summer movie” and “a lot of fun,” although overall reactions are divided.

“It’s less about the lore and more a fun, freaky romp across the galaxy. I really dug that about it,” Fandango’s Erik Davis posted on X in one of the most positive takes. “Also really dug Ludwig Göransson’s score, especially the parts that felt like an homage to ‘80s synth-driven horror and action thrillers… It reminded me how fun ‘Star Wars’ can be when it stops worrying about canon homework and just cuts loose. Treat it like a pulpy Saturday matinee ride and you’ll have a blast.”

Puck News’ box office columnist Scott Mendelson called the movie  “a solid line drive past second base, with lots of ‘Neat… haven’t seen that in a STAR WARS before’ charm.”

More mixed reactions came courtesy of i09’s Germain Lussier, who said the movie feels like “a longer, bigger episode of the show” it’s based on, writing: “It has one or two stand out scenes but it feels much more interested in developing the story to new locations with new creatures than the characters. Enjoyed some of it, left frustrated but the rest.”

Collider’s Peri Nemiroff shared criticism of Rotta the Hutt, voiced by “The Bear” Emmy winner Jeremy Allen White. “Live action Hutts are a challenge to pull off, a gladiator Hutt even more so, and it didn’t help that Rotta’s dialogue was often too on the nose,” she posted. “He did grow on me, but it feels like there was a more compelling way to convey his place in the world and his mission.”

“One of the weakest ‘Star Wars’ movies,” reporter Jonathan Sim wrote. “An emotionless, predictable experience that doesn’t push Din Djarin anywhere interesting. Dull, unexciting fight scenes; just CGI monsters. Action figures mashed together. A long, colorless made-for-TV movie.”

A continuation of the beloved Disney+ series “The Mandalorian,” the new “Star Wars” movie centers on the the adventures of Pedro Pascal‘s bounty hunter Din Djarin. Per the official synopsis: “The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din and his young apprentice Grogu.”

Joining Pascal and White in the movie is Sigourney Weaver. Jon Favreau, who created the Disney+ series, directs the film and co-writes alongside Noah Kloor and new Lucasfilm boss Dave Filoni.

“The Mandalorian and Grogu” arrives in theaters at an important time for “Star Wars.” The franchise has been away from movie theaters since the polarizing 2019 release of “The Rise of Skywalker” and filled up the interim with streaming series, from “The Mandalorian” to “The Book of Boba Fett,” “Ahsoka,” “Andor,” “The Acolyte” and more. Furthermore, longtime Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy departed the studio earlier this year and “The Mandalorian and Grogu” marks the first theatrical release under new bosses Filoni and Lynwen Brennan.

“The Mandalorian and Grogu” opens in theaters May 22.