The group review of The Mandalorian and Grogu on 30th May featured an edited version of this review. Here’s the full, unedited review.
A Star Wars(aw) Premiere – First impressions of The Mandalorian and Grogu
Star Wars premieres are usually synonymous with countdowns for ticket pre-orders, swarmed lobbies, restless energy, and the palpable electricity of crowds of fans gathering together to share the excitement. But in Warsaw, despite the relentless online marketing and the green-carpet buzz across Europe, the multiplexes felt strangely indifferent.
The premiere on May 19th was a regular glitzy affair—attended by local sport stars and fashion and entertainment celebrities with little to no connection to Star Wars. I expected a different vibe from the pre-premiere on May 21st, but the first public screenings felt more as if I went for a movie that’s been rolling for a while and is in its final weeks on the big screen.
In a hall that was two-thirds empty, there was none of the tension or anticipation I’ve come to associate with a new Star Wars title hitting the big screen. Even the promotional Lego posters, handed out with every ticket, were left in neglected piles, unclaimed by anyone. The only time I’ve experienced an even stronger lack of public fervour was back at the Clone Wars movie premiere in Bulgaria in 2008 when me and my siblings were about the only people in the cinema and we found ourselves asking: “Is this a VIP screening just for us or are we the only ones pumped for this?!”.
Speaking of Clone Wars excitement – If you’ve been wondering what happened to Rotta the Hutt, this is the film you’ve been waiting for. Jabba’s son absolutely steals the show every time he’s on screen—pedunkee mufkin has grown, and you will grow to love him!
But we all know that, right? 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-AT’s, 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.
