Solo: A Star Wars Story
My seven-year-old took a three hour nap on Tuesday and didn't get up until 6:00 in the evening. So what was I to do?
We went to late showing of Solo: A Star Wars Story. Yes, I'm that parent. I'm also that same parent that has taken him to see Willie Nelson, Sir Elton John, and Big Head Todd and the Monsters. (We're going to Michael Franti and Spearhead in August.)
I've also introduced him to the Star Trek and Harry Potter fandoms, so the it was inevitable that I would introduce him to Star Wars, which has been the only thing on his mind since early this spring. He will proudly tell anyone that he took the Lightsaber Quiz and that he has a green lightsaber, (I made sure he had one for his birthday last month.) And the kid regularly hums the Imperial March wherever he goes. (Hey, it's great music, what can I say?)
Anyway, the whole family has been quite excited for another Star Wars Story, because the characters are rich and complex. Was it a little scary? Yes, yes it was. A beloved character like Han Solo has a reputation, has certain quirks, and all the viewers I'm sure wonder if the new actor, Alden Ehrenreich, would be able to pull it off.
He did, and well, I might add. Alden must have watched and re-watched Episodes IV-VII, because the facial expressions, sayings, snark, and the swagger were all on point. You would have to study his face closely in each scene to know it wasn't Harrison Ford, but that's all you would see, that it wasn't Harrison Ford. In fact, Alden looks and plays the Han Solo part so well that you can be convinced that he's simply a younger Han.
This film also does justice to the franchise as a whole, it makes several nods to little Star Wars parts and not just when Lando Calrissian tells Han that he hates him and Han answers with: "I know." The complex backstory of Han lends well to his getting into smuggling, helping the Rebel Alliance ten years before he meets Luke, meeting Chewbacca, winning the Millennium Falcon, and that he learns to shoot first. If you're a true Star Wars fan, I can promise that you will not be disappointed by the film.
Oh, and if you're confused by Darth Maul's appearance, you clearly haven't the animated series The Clone Wars.
Image is from a cropped movie poster.