‘Skywalker,’ ‘Cats’ reviews
Abrams guides ‘Star Wars’ to an end that will please crowds
“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” makes a safe landing. “Cats” is cheesy but fun. And “A Hidden Life” is a movie you won’t want to overlook.
Martin Scorsese recently made headlines for saying that Marvel movies were like theme parks. ● It didn’t sound like a compliment, but it wasn’t clear to me exactly what he meant. ● Having seen “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” I think maybe now I know. ● Which isn’t the dig that Scorsese might have intended, by the way. (And I will let greater minds than mine — like his, for instance — weigh in on what constitutes “cinema.”) It’s just that if you built a “Star Wars” theme park, this movie could play there nonstop.
You know how the dictionary has all the other words in it?
This movie has all the other “Star
Wars” films in it.
It’s fan service to the nth degree, in other words, and it’s enjoyable and satisfying, if not overly challenging. If you didn’t like “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” because it didn’t hew to so-called canon, well, welcome back. Your movie has arrived, with director J.J. Abrams back at the helm.
It’s the last of the nine films that make up the Skywalker story (and yes, the title is explained). It brings closure to the saga in ways that I obviously won’t reveal, but that you probably will see coming. Yet it ends as it must, as most legends do.
When we catch up with the gang from this latest trilogy, Rey (Daisy Ridley, who is excellent, her best performance in the series) is still in Jedi training, taking instruction from Gen. Leia — the late Carrie Fisher in archival and digitally manipulated footage, which is kind of creepy, frankly. Poe (Oscar Isaac) and Finn (John Boyega) are flying around, as they do.
And Kylo Ren? The most interesting character in this trilogy and one of the best in the entire franchise, particularly in Adam Driver’s terrific portrayal? Can’t say.
Well, maybe a little. He’s still conflicted and guilt-ridden and confused. But he’s got plans, and they involve deals with the devil, you might say. Good as Ridley is as Rey, nothing in these movies has been as enjoyable as watching Driver’s Ren hash out his issues. Driver is such a great actor, such a joy to watch.
But, as with “The Last Jedi,” this film jumps around from plot line to plot line so often that you can’t help but wish we got more of Ren, or his face-offs — virtual and real — with Daisy. They’re still connected in whatever mind-meld way they were in the previous film, but Daisy is growing more powerful in her use of the Force.
It’s all heading for a showdown, you’d think, and you’d be right. But not just a showdown. More than one, as various family issues and identity crises, are worked out, often with a lightsaber. But sometimes in less violent ways. The words of a familiar face can work wonders.
And there are a lot of familiar faces. It’s nice to see Domhnall Gleeson back as the often-hapless Gen. Hux. Richard E. Grant makes an enjoyable bad guy as Allegiant Gen. Pryde. There’s a new droid that will look good in a Happy Meal and a genuinely touching moment from one of the old ones.
Never underestimate a droid, as they say. More than once, in fact.
The weight of the entire franchise rests on the shoulders of “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.” In that respect, it’s almost impossible for it to live up to the expectations foisted upon it. After all, how do you end the most iconic franchise of all time? (Don’t panic, there will be more movies, just not a part of this particular universe.)
You end it by trying to please everyone. Which can make it hard to please anyone. But Abrams is a crowd-pleaser and a good one. He’s made a film that is unquestionably entertaining and wraps things up in a way that will make fans happy.
Abrams brings it in for a safe landing. But sometimes a bumpier ride can be a little more fun.