Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is Safe, But it’s Impossible to Hate (Review)

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After a controversial ending to the most recent Star Wars trilogy, The Mandalorian and Grogu has brought the beloved galaxy back to cinemas. Jon Favreau, executive producer of The Mandalorian, directs this continuation of his Disney+ series, which launched a whole new wave of Star Wars stories set after Return of the Jedi – often called the “Mandoverse.” This includes the TV shows The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, and Skeleton Crew. Luckily, fans who’ve been enjoying these stories will find The Mandalorian and Grogu just as entertaining, with even bigger action sequences and plenty of heartwarming moments featuring Grogu (affectionately known as “Baby Yoda”). However, those hoping for the grand scale of a traditional Star Wars blockbuster might find this film more similar to Solo than Rogue One.

Following the events of season 3, The Mandalorian and Grogu finds Din Djarin and Grogu working as bounty hunters for the New Republic. They’re assigned to track down and capture or eliminate Imperial officials who haven’t faced justice after the Empire’s fall. Reporting to Commander Ward (Sigourney Weaver), and joined by Zeb (voiced by Steven Blum), a popular character from Star Wars: Rebels, they travel the galaxy on a mission to save Jabba the Hutt’s son, Rotta (Jeremy Allen White), and defeat a powerful, unknown Imperial leader.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

PROS CONS
If you’re looking for more Mando and Grogu, the movie delivers The supporting characters are undercooked
Great action sequences The story is a little simple
Lots of fun, and a good entry point for more casual fans Pacing before the third act ruins the action’s flow

Don’t Expect a Lot From The Mandalorian and Grogu’s Story

While The Mandalorian and Grogu offers exciting action and introduces some interesting characters, the story itself isn’t very engaging or well-developed. It continues the established father-son relationship, but doesn’t add much that’s new. It’s hard to avoid feeling like this movie is just a long episode of the Disney+ series, especially when the plot slows down significantly before the final act and unexpectedly shifts focus to the main characters. A sequence that would have worked well as a 25-minute TV episode feels out of place in a blockbuster movie, particularly since the film already struggles to give enough attention to supporting characters, leaving them feeling underdeveloped.

The New Mandalorian & Grogu Cast is Undercooked

Rotta suffers the most from the show’s inconsistent rhythm and how much time is given to different characters. Brought back from his original appearance as a baby in the Clone Wars series, Rotta was clearly meant to be a complex and sympathetic character – the show even cast Emmy-winning actor Jeremy Allen White to voice him. However, despite White’s efforts, Rotta ends up feeling like a plot device – a character who mostly talks about wanting to establish his own identity, separate from his famous father. This was likely meant to mirror the growing bond between Din and Grogu, but it doesn’t quite work. Din and Grogu have always had a strong, balanced relationship, and there’s never been any real conflict or power imbalance between them, so the comparison feels forced.

While familiar faces return, and some new ones appear, most characters besides Zeb are fairly simple and exist mainly for fan service or quick references. Seeing Sigourney Weaver in a Star Wars film is a treat, but it’s exciting because of who she is, not because her character is particularly interesting or well-developed. Embo, a bounty hunter from The Clone Wars, is a menacing villain and participates in a couple of the movie’s best action scenes. However, the film offers very little insight into his motivations or backstory. He’s essentially a darker reflection of what Din Djarin could have been without Grogu – a highly skilled mercenary focused solely on completing his contracts, and he doesn’t say much.

What The Mandalorian and Grogu Gets Right

Despite its flaws, The Mandalorian and Grogu is a fun movie, largely because it does two things well. It offers fresh takes on classic Star Wars action sequences, though none quite reach the heights of previous films. The movie starts with Din Djarin at his best, feeling like the Star Wars equivalent of John Wick, and features an exciting aerial battle reminiscent of the original trilogy. The final fight between Din and Embo is a visually impressive bounty hunter showdown, even if the battle happening alongside it is a bit strange.

The latest installment of The Mandalorian and Grogu successfully brings back the elements that fans loved in the original series: Din Djarin’s quiet heroism and Grogu’s playful personality. Pedro Pascal’s delivery and a fleeting glimpse of his face continue to draw viewers into Mando’s story, and Grogu’s puppetry, though more visible on larger IMAX screens, remains charming and a better choice than a computer-generated Yoda. Essentially, the dynamic between these two characters still works wonderfully, even if this episode doesn’t push their relationship in any new directions.

Fans of Star Wars and the Disney+ series The Mandalorian will likely enjoy this new movie continuation from Jon Favreau. It builds on what already works well in the series, offering a longer and more expansive story. While The Mandalorian and Grogu doesn’t take many risks – even with the addition of a surprisingly muscular, voice-acting-award-winning slug – it delivers entertainment that will leave audiences wanting more of Mando and Baby Yoda.

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2026-05-20 15:10