Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu
May 19th, 2026
MOVIE: STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU
STARRING: PEDRO PASCAL, SIGOURNEY WEAVER, JEREMY ALLEN WHITE
DIRECTED BY: JON FAVREAU
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 2 STARS (Out of 4)
RATED: PG-13
RUN TIME: 132 MINUTES
When a new Star Wars movie arrives in theaters, it’s impossible not to ruminate on what exactly the franchise has become. What started as an out-of-nowhere idea from George Lucas and a box office phenomenon has gradually morphed over the last 40 years into something none of its fans or foes could have expected. The problem with its ever-changing cultural existence is that it has become an out-of-control monster, unable to wrangle the massive machine of money pushing it forward. Enter Jon Favreau, director and writer of The Mandalorian, now tasked with bringing the masked bounty hunter and his adorable sidekick Grogu (aka Baby Yoda) to the big screen. The problem, however, is that this isn’t television, and the beast has grown too large. The Mandalorian and Grogu is one of the more conflicting installments in Star Wars lore, balancing an adventurous spirit against hideous special effects and a storyline that feels like two overextended episodes smashed together. This is the way for Star Wars now, and I don’t like it.
The opening sequence of Mando & Grogu is undeniably strong. Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal, mostly hidden beneath a helmet and armor) storms an Imperial base packed with stormtroopers and walkers primed for destruction. After the explosive mayhem, the team returns to home base, where Colonel Ward (Sigourney Weaver), a member of the New Republic, hires Mando to track down remnants of the Empire lurking in the shadows. Just as he thinks he might finally rest, he’s pulled into another mission involving the twin Hutts, the search for their nephew Rotta the Hutt (Jeremy Allen White), and the pursuit of the mysterious Commander Coin. Off we go on another adventure.
For its entire two-hour-and-twelve-minute runtime, The Mandalorian and Grogu take one step forward and two steps back. Written by Favreau, new studio overseer Dave Filoni, and Noah Kloor, the story splits awkwardly into two halves: one focused on Mando, the other on Grogu, while constantly oscillating between familiar Star Wars scenarios overloaded with distracting CGI. A gladiator arena fight, clearly evoking Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, features a parade of creatures that resemble rejected Men in Black aliens. The sequence has moments of fun, but it never stops looking artificial. The mechanics behind Grogu himself look better than ever, yet they’re trapped against lifeless green-screen backdrops and digital gobbledygook. Between the lazy visual effects, formulaic storytelling, and stretches of genuine boredom, the film never escapes the feeling that it’s really just an expensive TV episode masquerading as a theatrical event.
I hate to harp on how ugly Mando & Grogu often looks, but I couldn’t stop thinking: this is Star Wars, the groundbreaking science-fiction saga that changed blockbuster filmmaking forever, so why does it look worse than ever? The Hutt characters are especially rough, with Rotta appearing like a roided-up worm rendered from a mid-tier video game and awkwardly pasted into live action. Even the space dogfights lack the speed, chaos, and kinetic energy that Lucas injected into the prequel trilogy. It all feels strangely flat, uninspired, and lazy. Supposedly, this is what $166.4 million buys now.
To be fair, it’s not all bad. Favreau does attempt a different approach by largely steering clear of Jedi, lightsabers, and anyone named Darth. Instead, he leans into the pulpy Flash Gordon-style adventure serials that once played alongside a kid’s morning bowl of cereal, and there’s something admirable about that direction. Unfortunately, the handful of memorable set pieces- the opening assault, a battle with a giant snake-like creature, and Grogu’s late-film heroics- never fully elevate the material or shake up the Star Wars universe in any meaningful way. Grogu remains the most adorable creature in the galaxy, and younger audiences or viewers not yet exhausted by years of Star Wars disappointment will probably love this movie. (My eight-year-old son certainly did.) As a gateway PG-13 blockbuster for kids his age, it works perfectly well. I just expected more. The Mandalorian and Grogu ultimately feels like low-level Star Wars in this, or any, galaxy far, far away.
2 STARS
STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU IS PLAYING IN THEATERS EVERYWHERE FRIDAY, MAY 22ND, 2026.
Written by: Leo Brady
