Every time new Star Wars projects land, Fantha Tracks will be giving their responses, and here are our initial gut feelings, deep dives and thoughts on Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu. Beware of spoilerific elements in here.
Jonathan Hipkiss
THIS IS THE WAY!
Three words…I loved it! It delivered exactly what I was hoping for – a great time at the movies! I loved the fact that the film literally took elements of a 1950’s monster movie, combined it Flash Gordon and added what we loved about the Disney+ series to deliver a terrific adventure romp.
The production design was top notch, the score was perfect, yes – perfect, and the work from ILM and the Creature Department was second to none. I truly believe that this was some of the their best work. The worlds felt lived in and my favourite sequence was the Dejarik gladiator battle. I left with a big grin on my face and wanted more. This felt like something that George would have made either after Jedi or Sith and I mean that in every best possible way.
Sander de Lange
It is difficult to find words that my fellow Fanthas have not already said in the defense of how much fun this movie is and where it stands compared to the rest of the saga and the various Disney Plus series. Yes, it may not have been the all-time best when it comes to the movies, but it was great fun and in the end is that not what counts?
It was an overextended episode of the series, yes, but is that so bad? Not at all to me, especially if it is on par with the excellent first season of The Mandalorian. As always, Grogu was very cute, and the humor was excellent once again with him. To me what also stood out was Rotta and the many love letters to The Clone Wars that Dave Filoni has managed to put in there, without it being tedious or even an hinderance for people who (unrightfully so) ignore the animated series to this day.
The only downside to me is a minor one, and that is having those credits appear during the opening of the movie. Now it is great to see Brendan Wayne and Lateef Crowder’s name pop up so quick in them, and rightfully so, but as this is the first time this has happened within Star Wars, and it felt odd to see. And while I, as a film location traveler, would have loved it if it was not entirely filmed on sets and within the Volume, I do understand why that happened, and still loved the worldbuilding with worlds like Nal Hutta.
Johanna Lindén Nybelius
I didn’t go in to see The Mandalorian and Grogu with high expectations. And in one way it was what I expected. The Mandalorian battles one creature after another, Grogu does cute things, and there are X-wings in the air, all played out against a great musical backdrop. But, the thing is, sometimes that is exactly what you need.
This is not a grand installment about the political development in the galaxy or the comeback of The Clone Wars or Rebels characters, this is a simple and fun adventure, the kind of film that was the original inspiration for Star Wars, and it is nice to just sit back and enjoy the ride and not think too much about its place in the larger Star Wars saga. And I definitely did not think that the most character development would be the story of Rotta the Hutt.
But why no love for A-Wings? There were plenty of X-Wings and Y-Wings, a U-Wing gets a lot of screen time and there is even a B-Wing parked at the Adelphi Base, but no A-Wings that I could see. Sad.
Paul Naylor
Those who have seen recent episodes of Good Morning Tatooine, featuring Brian Cameron and myself, will recall I had little hope for enjoying this big screen outing for Mando and his little green friend. With poor promotion, I was concerned that this was going to arrive flatter than a punctured tyre.
Happily I was wrong.
On the surface, it’s a relatively self-contained story. Yes, there are some wider implications – picking off imperial overlords – but in general, it was about re-enforcing the bond between Din Djarin and Grogu which has now shifted to a more level playing field. Much more about working together than parent and protector.
The intro story gave Indiana Jones vibes. It was a self-contained action sequence that thrust the audience straight into the thick of it. It’s always great to see AT-ATs on the big screen, as well as a lovely use of a mini-rig from the 80s Kenner action figure line.
I loved all the Hutt stuff. Especially Rotta becoming an unlikely hero, as well as the whole nursing of Mando by Grogu scene. Always create a big enough shelter folks! And the Return of the Jedi background character Amanaman has now gone from something akin to a dancing flower – remember those? – to a terrifying cobra-esque species.
This was never intended to be a story of huge significance. It has at its heart something that George Lucas thrived on as a youngster – Saturday matinee B-movie style popcorn fun. A rollercoaster ride that changes very little in your life, but is fun, fun, fun.
My biggest take away from The Mandalorian and Grogu: It is way better to enjoy a film of little consequence than to dislike one that should mean everything.
The Mandalorian and Grogu is a solid fun ride, unlike the saga episodes 8 and 9 that tried to be experimental and missed every opportunity to be the stuff of greatness. Give me this over that any day.
Melissa T. Miller
The movie does an admirable job of welcoming in viewers who don’t watch a lot of Star Wars while giving those who do some delightful little nuggets to enjoy. I appreciate both! I did not need to rewatch The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett to see this movie, though this is a bit of a double-edged saber because this also means the movie feels unfulfilling as a final chapter. This is an enjoyable adventure for Mando and Grogu, but a disappointing finale. While I’m always happy to see Star Wars in the movie theater, I’d have preferred a season 4 where both main characters experienced an arc of any kind, Mando found a community, and Grogu said his first words.
Like the best Star Wars storytelling, there’s a rich tapestry of characters just along the edges. The world building is in fine shape. Now I want a short story series from the movie, like the “Tales From…” series from the 90s and the more recent “From a Certain Point of View.” Let’s learn about what the bayou wizard (Gatori, according to IMDb) does all day, how the Amani ended up as captives, whether one of the Anzellans is Babu Frik, if Martin Scorsese’s cook Hugo was serving mudhorn egg, and give backstories to the VIP table at the Rebel Base (I yelled “Doug!” quite loudly when I saw the amazing Doug Chiang joined the series directors there).
Seeing so many Hutts and learning about them was fascinating. They sleep lying down! They can speak Basic (English)! Their home planet is swampy! They can have muscles! The JAWB (Jeremy Allen White body, a term coined by The Lonely Island) on Rotta the Hutt was wild. I loved that their droids were all hodge-podged together from different types and eras. That feels very real in a post-Empire galaxy.
Despite preferring to watch all my content at home, I did clap and laugh out loud in the theater. Many of these moments are tied to my own childhood Star Wars memories. I was so excited to finally see inside an AT-AT (pronounced at-at, don’t @ me) after years of filling mine with action figures. My happiness at seeing the Amani onscreen (they’re aquatic, how cool!) was quickly dampened by them being portrayed as vicious and all being killed immediately. A far cry from the stories I made up in my head about the species of my favorite action figure. In general, why do Mando and Grogu gotta kill so many things? I’ve been thinking and writing about this from the beginning of the series, there’s just so much killing of creatures just doing their thing and I hate it.
While most of the arena fighters escaped, their fate is likely an offscreen death. I did enjoy the Easter Egg though. I knew I recognized the term Dejarik as soon as it was said, but didn’t think too much of it as I watched the action onscreen. But when the broad-shouldered dinosaur in a tanktop was revealed, my mind immediately connected to the holographic game Chewbacca and R2-D2 play in A New Hope. I’m curious how many people noticed it in the moment. Yes, it feels like some forced nostalgia but I always love seeing new Star Wars critters so I’m already thinking about these and where they come from and what all those adaptations are for when not caged and forced to fight. Let’s get the crossover with the Galactic Society of Creature Enthusiasts!
Andy Preston
Frivolous family fun. The Mandalorian and Grogu is high on action, excitement, and cute creatures doing cute things. There’s plenty of fan service and Easter eggs to spot, and the VFX and CGI benefit from a movie budget.
However, the plot is paper thin, there’s almost nothing in the way of character development, and minimal tension – we know Mando and Grogu will survive, and so we never feel any real sense of threat.
Worse, in hindsight the whole movie feels pointless – the characters and the wider Star Wars galaxy remain unchanged throughout.
It’s enjoyable fluff, but by no means an essential part of Star Wars canon.
Ricky Resurreccion
When Jon Favreau spoke about the responsibility they felt while making the movie, to invite “a whole new generation of people into Star Wars,” that intention is very apparent in TMAG. The whole movie feels built around that idea and Grogu is the perfect gateway for viewers who are not deep into the lore.
The old protect the young: This movie is a kid’s movie, no doubt about it. It’s structured as a video game with progressing levels of difficulty – non-stop action with a good amount of Anzellan humor and enough heart to keep the adventure from feeling empty. Grogu is a character where every kid can see themselves: mischievous, playful, and yet responsible beyond expectations. True to what George Lucas once said, Star Wars has always been, at its core, “a film for 12 year olds.”
The young protect the old: While The Mandalorian and Grogu felt light, there was still a lot to let the OGs to enjoy. The movie still carries the texture of Star Wars: familiar creatures and characters (the Amanis, Embo, Trapper Wolf), lived in worlds, oddball humor (we need to see Hugo Durant again!), and that old sense of wonder.
In the end, that is the magic of Star Wars. It helps the old become the innocent kids they once were.
Nenko Genov
I’d say this is a spoiler free review, but the fact is that if you’ve seen the trailers and the teasers, there’s barely anything left to be spoiled. In my opinion the marketing cycle worked against The Mandalorian and Grogu. If you’ve been online for the last two months, you essentially already know what the movie has in store for you. If you go in knowing exactly what to expect, you won’t be disappointed, but you also won’t be surprised.
What I missed in this film and wish I had gotten from it is at least one of those gasp moments that electrify the entire audience and make us all cheer in unison in the cinema. And I know that Mando stories can pull that off! We all know it! Remember the chills seeing Grogu for the first time? Remember the goosebumps during the entrance of Luke Skywalker at the end of season 2? Yeah, so do I! I with the movie gave us a scene like that. Instead, moments holding such potential were mostly revealed in advance through marketing clips, leaving the film with almost no major surprises. I mean, we already know that Zeb, Rotta and Embo are here, we even know the Dejarik beasts are here, and the AT-Ats, and the Anzellans… (I’ll admit that ironically the Toy Story 5 trailer that preceded the film felt more emotionally impactful to me than most of The Mandalorian and Grogu.)
So generally, I got exactly what I expected: no more, no less. It felt like a high-budget TV movie or a limited cinema screening of a streaming title, rather than an “event” film. That’s not necessarily a bad thing; it’s refreshing to have stories that don’t hinge on saving the entire galaxy, but instead focus on smaller, yet still really exciting adventures. (That said, it felt a bit odd to see opening credits on a Star Wars show — as if they aimed to flash the names of famous cast members and remind us that there are plenty of stars involved in this Star Wars too.)
Plot-wise, The Mandalorian and Grogu follows the schematic mission pattern of the series—it’s essentially an RPG campaign run by a skilled Dungeon Master. The film plays out as a series of simple objectives and boss battles, peppered with Anzellan antics and Grogu’s reliable innocent cuteness and comic relief. You’ll find the expected cameos, familiar creatures in full-scale glory, and plenty of lore-nods. (However, some of the musical and directorial choices occasionally gave off the vibe of a lofi YouTube video – Mando and Grogu strolling through the night streets, Grogu finding a quiet spot by the water to focus in the Force…)
Where the film truly shines is in the palpable sense that the writers and directors were simply having fun. And I’d say we got enough evidence that the creative team enjoyed their time on set.
But my absolute favourite part of The Mandalorian and Grogu? It might sound niche, but it was the practical effects. The puppeteering and stop-motion were masterful. Even if you aren’t a film buff, you instinctively know when something on screen has “weight” — when it feels tangible, alive. If you are an admirer of the work of Willis H. O’Brien, Ray Harryhausen, or Phil Tippett, you are in for a treat.
The team from Tippett Studio didn’t deliver a bunch of impressive shots; they made a powerful statement that this art form is not only alive but more capable than ever. That was some of the most beautiful stop motion I have ever seen in a motion picture and I cannot stress that enough. I am genuinely happy for the stop-motion animators who got to showcase their craft here; their work is breathtakingly beautiful and resulted in exquisite characters and magical fairytale-like scenes that I can’t wait to see again (and again!).
All in all, The Mandalorian and Grogu is action-packed entertainment—pure, unpretentious escapism for all ages. It is safe, straightforward and likely predictable, perhaps even forgettable for the general public. It didn’t offer any jaw-dropping, goosebump-inducing moments , but if you love the series and care for the characters, you’ll most definitely have fun with it. And for us fans it is always good to see more Star Wars stories in the cinemas.
Andrew Walker
Seven years after The Rise of Skywalker and the same amount of time spent enjoying the exploits of our (second?) favourite Mandalorian on Disney Plus, Star Wars is finally back where it should be, on the silver screen. But the question that most people seem to have been asking in the run up is, “Is this a real Star Wars film or just an extra-long episode of the series?” Well, in my opinion, it’s both! While there were some throwbacks to the series, I think it stands up pretty well on its own. Also, since this is not a mainstream Star Wars movie, I think the right choice was to appeal to the people who have watched the series rather than trying to make sure that everyone understands every little in-joke. For example, check who is sitting in the background during one of the scenes at the New Republic base. I loved that but people who know nothing about the series won’t even know what they have missed!
So, what about the film itself? I can sum it up, for me, in three words: good, not great. It started off with a great introduction scene. All action and really showing why Mando is the best at what he does. Small touches like the INT-4 shuttle (a nod back to some of the old Kenner toys from The Empire Strikes Back period), snowtroopers who had not yet put on their cowl fooling us costume nerds into thinking there was a new type of trooper costume coming up and upgraded AT-AT’s all appealed greatly to me. Sadly, I think it then levelled off a bit. The story got a bit caught up in itself and became less about hunting down the Imperial Remnant which I had really looked forward to.
I loved the Anzellan comic relief. They are constantly just babbling away in the background about everything and nothing. One advantage of living in Sweden was that the film was subtitled so everything they said was much easier to pick out. I’m sure I’d have missed some. The shot of the X- and Y-Wings coming in to land against the sunset was just gorgeous.
The things I disliked were more down to me being a picky Star Wars-fan than anything actually wrong. Since the Hutts were such central characters, it was maybe inevitable that they would swap to Galactic Basic instead of Huttese after a while but I didn’t like it. Nal Hutta did not match the image I have in my head from precious books and games.
Brian Cameron
The Mandalorian and Grogu is a flawed film, of that there is no doubt. At its very foundation it failed to answer the question asked around the world since it was announced. Why?
Why select these characters and make a movie with them at this juncture. The film doesn’t even try to answer it. There is no real character progression. There is no major plot development. The film barely even touches upon the lore established in the TV series.
Does that make it a bad film. No. It makes it an imperfect film.
Favreau has set out to make a father son movie, and he achieves a feel good movie in that genre. Much like Chef (2014) and Elf (2003). It’s a genre that Favreau handles well and he does it again here. The Mandalorian and Grogu both get there moments to shine, and a plethora of puppets and creatures also step up to the plate to add real character to a movie devoid of human faces.
It’s actually quite a feat to make you care about faceless characters and creatures but Favreau manages it. Perhaps the standout performance however came from Shirley Henderson as the Anzellans. A subtle but beautiful performance as their voices and constant scene stealers.
It was impossible to not walk out the theatre with a smile on your face. Did it set the heather alight. No. Did it redefine Star Wars. No. It was a fun gentle adventure that steadies a rocky boat that has been Star Wars for too many years. This was the kind of movie George wanted to make in the 80s with the Ewok movies. If you had given him the time and the budget, this is what you would have got.
Now to bring this thing back to its glorious heights with something meaty in Star Wars Starfighter in 2027. If this steadied the boat it’s time to make Star Wars push boundaries again. Take risks. Make meaningful adventures with purpose. The old films inform the young. It’s time for the young to embrace the old. Don’t be frightened to make a Star Wars movie. It’s what we all want.
Eric Onkenhout
Leaving the cinema after seeing The Mandalorian and Grogu on opening night, I felt pretty much what I expected to feel: it was about what I expected it to be – a decent movie. It was good. I enjoyed it. It was good. I was whelmed. Which is fine. There were funny parts, lots of action, mostly fast-paced, some unexpected things, but I couldn’t help thinking what could have been. But hey, that’s all a part of being a fan, right? We all watch it, and then we discuss. So let’s discuss.
>Starting with the opening scene, Commander Barro is meeting with local leaders as he renegotiates his protection money. One issue I had with The Mandalorian and Grogu was the lack of characters from the series. I felt Bo-Katan could’ve played a part, Boba Fett, or Cobb Vanth, someone, maybe even Cara Dune, since Gina Carano and Disney kissed and made up. Instead, we get Commander Barro from Chapter 23: The Spies. During the meeting, Mando comes in and takes out all of the stormtroopers, which was very cool. Grogu is outside the compound doing his part, and they meet up and take out three AT-AT’s, which was really cool. The explosions and the music were chef’s kiss. I loved how Barro used the INT-4 to escape. Some fans old enough may know about the Kenner mini rigs from the 80s that were never in any of the movies until now. I appreciated that.
The opening credits during the next scene, when Mando travels to Adelphi Base, made me cringe, and they went on for too long. Lucas fought to have the credits at the end of the movie, and it’s been that way ever since so why they decided to change that now I’d like to find out. Regardless, having a few actors’ names is fine, but when you start listing the Special Effects Supervisor in the opening credits, that’s very weird. Maybe Favreau wanted to make sure they got noticed, but who doesn’t know about ILM? And what did Filoni think of that? I don’t know, it just felt very not-Star Wars. Hey, I’m all for trying different things, different approaches, but use some discretion.
Mando and Grogu meet Colonel Ward, played by Sigourney Weaver. I’ve heard some folks say that her character was a missed opportunity. I disagree. I thought her character was fine. In actuality, I think it seemed like a missed opportunity because there wasn’t much of a supporting cast besides Zeb. I would’ve rather had Colonel Ward command a crew, including Mando, in person instead of doling out orders from a distance. By the way, up to now, Grogu has already captured the audience with his cuteness. Every time he was on screen, I could hear the audience giggle and laugh at everything he did.
The story was easy to follow, which I appreciated. I can’t stand when writers make stories so convoluted that it makes it nearly impossible to make sense of them. Colonel Ward pays Mando for taking out Barro by gifting him a refurbished Razorcrest, which is more than enough payment for killing Barro. But in order to accept the ship, Mando must rescue Rotta the Hutt (Jabba’s son) from the fighting pits on Shakari on request from the twin Hutts (Jabba’s sister and brother). If Mando succeeds, then the twins will provide intelligence on Imperial fugitives. Mando visits the twins on Nal Hutta and then makes way to Shakari. I appreciated Zeb mentioning the Droid Gotra, which was a group of droids that supported droid rights and served as muscle for certain crime syndicates, including the Hutts. They first appeared in Most Wanted (2018) by Rae Carson.
On Shakari, Mando stops at a food truck to get info on Rotta’s whereabouts, where Mando speaks to an Ardennian fry cook, Hugo Durant. Maybe related to Rio Durant from Solo? Hugo was voiced by Martin Scorsese. The way he was animated and acted made me love this character. Mando finally finds Rotta in a gladiator pit, cracking skulls, not looking like a prisoner. After the fight, Mando finds Rotta in his cell getting a massage. So Rotta starts talking, and wow, I did not expect that. I knew Jeremy Allen White was voicing Rotta, but I guess I assumed they would manipulate his voice enough that he speaks Huttese. But hey, like I said, I’m all for trying different things and doing the unexpected. Pushing the bar. Logistically, I understand why they chose this path, but it was…something. One of my friends I saw it with didn’t like that choice, but I’m fine with it, I guess. The brother also spoke Basic, which sounded really weird at first, but at least he had an accent.
Skipping ahead, the story is not deep. It’s a basic adventure story. It felt like a two-hour-long episode of The Mandalorian, which isn’t a bad thing. I just felt like it could’ve been more without making it overly complicated. For example, the series touches upon the cloning facilities. Why not push that idea further, knowing that it will be a major plot point in the sequel trilogy? I get that Favreau didn’t want people to have to do homework, but why not do that and maybe spark some interest in those who haven’t seen the sequels?
I liked seeing the Amani. I used that term loosely. It was hard to see them at times; it was either too dark or too fast. The hardcore fans know what they look like, but for those not as familiar with their species, the pause button would’ve been handy. Instead of a rancor pit, we got a dragonsnake pool. I think I’d rather face a rancor on land. I loved seeing the dejarik creatures on the fighting pit and how the mantellian savrip bodyslammed the kintan strider, which put a huge smile on my face.
I personally loved seeing Rotta and the twins wrestling. All I could think of was how far special effects have come since Jabba in the special editions. Oh! If a jacked-up Hutt looked odd to you with his longer arms and muscles, he’s not the first Hutt to use the Arnold Schwarzenegger workout plan. Grakkus the Hutt (Marvel Star Wars #9, 2015) made Rotta look tiny.
My final word is that The Mandalorian and Grogu felt like a placeholder, an appetizer of sorts for next year before Ahsoka season two, and then Starfighter is the main course. Hey, have a chew on this. It should keep you satisfied (w/Maul – Shadow Lord) while we prep the main dish. I liken The Mandalorian and Grogu to Solo: A Star Wars Story, but with less fun and less familiar names. Most of the enjoyment in The Mandalorian and Grogu came from Grogu and the Anzellans. I haven’t mentioned Grogu much because he was great. He showed growth in his independence and Force use. Seeing him walk with a cane in the jungles of Nal Hutta was obviously a nod to Yoda. I could see him settling there as an old man, building his mud huts and meditating on fallen trees. Lastly, I felt the Imperial Commander Coin and his Iktochi bodyguard were kind of pointless. They didn’t do much. And what’s with the multiple cameos by Dave Filoni? It was fun when it happened occasionally in the prequels, but c’mon, guys. They need to chill with that.
Ross Hollebon
Welcome to the Fun-vreau Filoni-verse, amplified via the IMAX experience. I was excited that the pair made their film, accompanied by a familiar yet ramped-up score by Ludwig Göransson, immersed in Skywalker Sound audio effects that make Star Wars unique and comforting. Whether it was action, comedy, longing, or moments of melancholy, I smiled…often.
Mando, as Colonel Ward (Sigourney Weaver) pointed out, was “messy” at times. How the Beskar-clad hero put himself and Grogu in harm’s way on multiple occasions might have been too convenient to move the film forward, as were aspects of Rotta the Hutt (Jeremy Allen White) explaining his own backstory. Still, I get why they made the filmmaking decisions they did, and nitpicking aside, I loved the film and have already watched it twice (with more viewings on the way).
The Star Wars-loving fan in me was thrilled to see Zeb Orellios (Steve Blum) fighting in live action, Carson Teva (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee) and the Mando directors-turned-New Republic pilots all in action again, and Ardennian chef Hugo Durant (Martin Scorsese) ladling straight from a Mudhorn Sooga to coat a flat meat sandwich for Grogu. This was the fun summer blockbuster I was looking for. This is the Way!
A new Star Wars film is a very special thing, and here’s some of the Fantha team as they hit cinemas in the UK, Europe and the States to see The Mandalorian and Grogu.
Hear Mark Newbold and Mark Mulcaster give their spoiler-free opinions on The Mandalorian and Grogu on Making Tracks Reaction Chat: Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu – Non-Spoiler review.
Hear Mark Newbold and Mark Mulcaster give their spoiler-free opinions on The Mandalorian and Grogu on Making Tracks Reaction Chat: Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu – with Spoilers.
Watch Brian Cameron and Paul Naylor discuss The Mandalorian and Grogu on Your Weekly Star Wars News Recap For 24th May 2026 | Good Morning Tatooine
