The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special
The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special” reunites Rey, Finn, Poe, Chewie, Rose and the droids for a joyous feast on Life Day, a holiday first introduced in the 1978 “Star Wars Holiday Special.” The new special from LEGO is the first to debut on Disney+ and continues the rich legacy of collaboration between Lucasfilm and LEGO— playful adventures told in the endearingly irreverent way that only LEGO Star Wars cobranded content can.
Directly following the events of “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” Rey leaves her friends to prepare for Life Day as she sets off on a new adventure with BB-8 to gain a deeper knowledge of the Force. At a mysterious Jedi Temple, she is hurled into a cross-timeline adventure through beloved moments in Star Wars cinematic history, coming into contact with Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Yoda, Obi-Wan and other iconic heroes and villains from all nine Skywalker saga films. But will she make it back in time for the Life Day feast and learn the true meaning of holiday spirit?
Release Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2020
Cast: Kelly Marie Tran (Rose Tico), Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Matt Lanter (Anakin Skywalker), Tom Kane (Yoda, Qui-Gon Jinn), James Arnold Taylor (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Dee Bradley Baker (clone troopers)
Directed by: Ken Cunningham
Written by: David Shayne
Executive Producers: James Waugh, Josh Rimes, Jason Cosler, Jacqui Lopez, Jill Wilfert, Keith Malone
Co-Executive Producer: David Shayne
Production Company: Atomic Cartoons, The LEGO Group, Lucasfilm
In a period of time when many people are on a short fuse and life seems tough, laughs are in short supply. Thank goodness then for The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special which not only brings plenty of humour and energy but does it with a big heart, all the while honoring the saga without ever mocking it. In short, you need to find 45 uninterrupted minutes with a bucket of popcorn or similarly tasty snacks and enjoy the Fornax out of this.
We’re beyond the events of The Rise of Skywalker and Rey is endeavouring to teach Finn the ways of the Force, but not only is Finn not quite ready to learn, Rey isn’t ready to teach. As we listen to the narration from Master Yoda, we follow Rey as she heads to a mystical world, finding a crystal key that once spinning opens a portal that not only allows travel through space but also time, triggering a sequence of jumps that take us from Luke and Yoda training on Dagobah during the events of The Empire Strikes Back to Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon in The Phantom Menace and the second Death Star of Return of the Jedi as Vader and the Emperor bicker, leading to Vader being sent after Rey to acquire the key.
The loving nods to the films can’t be underestimated; this is written and produced by people infused in the GFFA, with in-jokes and observations everywhere, and when I say everywhere I mean it – no Star Wars adventure has covered so many planets, showing us our heroes at their most innocent (young Luke looking at the binary sunset drinking a carton of blue milk) or their most duplicitous (this Emperor really is a piece of work). It’s foot to the floor, non-stop fun, touching base with every film in the saga and even a brief glimpse of the too-cute-for-school Baby Yoda from The Mandalorian.
It’s worth remembering that this is a sequel to the original Holiday Special, and while the only thematic link is Life Day, there’s an eclectic spirit to the episode that honours that one-off, oddly iconic TV special. We have music thanks to Max Rebo, guest vocal appearances from Kelly Marie Tran (with more screen time in brick form than circumstances allowed in The Rise of Skywalker), Billy Dee Williams and Anthony Daniels and some familiar faces voicing the rest of the characters, with a special mention for a spot-on Rey by Helen Sadler.
In his recent press conference Anthony Daniels hinted at more Holiday Specials. Perhaps Lucasfilm and Disney Plus are thinking of The Simpsons and their 30 years run of Treehouse of Horror episodes, and if that is the case then on the strength of this that’s a very welcome goal. Huge fun, beautifully crafted that will put a spring in your step for the rest of the day and beyond.
- Includes 4 minifigures: Han Solo, Greedo, Wuher and a Sandtrooper
- Mos eisley cantina features a detailed bar, sliding entrance door, seat-tipping functions, open-out design and detachable sections
- Also includes a Ubrikkian 9000 pod with opening minifigure cockpit and top-mounted stud shooter
- Open out the cantina and play out classic Star Wars: a new hope tavern scenes.
