The Force re-awakens: Rashid Irani reviews Solo: A Star Wars Story - Hindustan Times
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The Force re-awakens: Rashid Irani reviews Solo: A Star Wars Story

Hindustan Times | ByRashid Irani
May 25, 2018 03:51 PM IST

With a fine balance of action and humour, the film leaves one yearning for more from the epic sci-fi saga.

SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY

Direction: Ron Howard

Actors: Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke

Rating: 3.5 / 5

It’s been 41 years, but this epic sci-fi saga remains one of the most successful franchises in film history.

In this second spin-off adventure (following Rogue One… in 2016), a young new actor, Alden Ehrenreich, steps into the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon in place of Harrison Ford, who had owned the role since 1977.

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We follow him as he flees his home planet in pursuit of his lady love (Emilia Clarke). Embarking on a series of interplanetary missions as a smuggler, Solo meets his future Wookiee cohort Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) and teams up with a band of career criminals led by a notorious mercenary (Woody Harrelson).

Embarking on a series of interplanetary missions as a smuggler, Solo meets his future Wookiee cohort Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) and the notorious mercenary (Woody Harrelson) who leads the gang.
Embarking on a series of interplanetary missions as a smuggler, Solo meets his future Wookiee cohort Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) and the notorious mercenary (Woody Harrelson) who leads the gang.

The film has had a troubled production history. Phil Lord and Chris Miller were divested of directorial duties after they had already shot substantial portions of the film. (Incidentally, the protracted opening scenes set in a dystopian cityscape are so dimly lit that it is often difficult to figure out what’s going on.)

Assigned as their replacement, Ron Howard (Rush, Frost/Nixon, Apollo 13) brings his high-energy style to the proceedings. The script by father-son duo Lawrence and Jonathan Kasdan is a canny cross between a Western and a heist caper, replete with twists and turns.

Maintaining a fine balance of action and humour, Howard also manages to adroitly juggle a vast number of new characters, among them a delightful droid companion (voiced by Phoebe Waller-Bridge) who when asked if he needs anything replies, “Equal rights”.

Overall Solo… leaves one yearning for further exploits, in that galaxy far, far away…

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