Everybody loves Grogu.
But the Mandalorian? If we could see his face, we might be able to wager an opinion. Much of âStar Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu,â however, features him in his helmet.
That means Pedro Pascal, the man who voices him, has little opportunity to express emotion or foster a relationship with man or beast. The Grogu relationship is much like that of a man and his pet.
The Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu in "The Mandalorian and Grogu."
The rest of the film? Uninvolving.
Directed by Jon Favreau, the erstwhile actor who got âIron Manâ off the ground, âMandalorian and Groguâ is dark, choppy and hardly worthy of the big names it has attracted. Sure, Sigourney Weaver gets a handful of scenes, but theyâre largely expositional. She sets the plot in motion and stays in touch.
Mando, it seems, has to rescue Rotta the Hutt (voiced by Jeremy Allen White â let that sink in) in exchange for intel from the slimy Hutt Twins.
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"The Mandalorian and Grogu" features a rare sight: The Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) without his signature helmet.
Rotta battles a bunch of creatures in what looks like a remake of âGladiatorâ and gets unlikely help from Grogu. He also serves as a callback to several âStar Warsâ tropes. Stunt men get work (thatâs the good news), but the rest of us have to make sense of the cheap production values, the dark cinematography and the overly aggressive score.
Mando works his way through a chain of characters (who all look like they frequent the Mos Eisley Cantina) and, in the process, must keep an eye on Grogu, who looks more puppet-y than Yoda ever did. Grogu frequently forgets to fasten his seatbelt and needs to be reminded. But he also has an ability to heal his palâs wounds and pull the two of them out of the tightest jams. There are countless prototypes for toys and a vague set of references to the âStar Warsâ you know but donât get to enjoy.
While âThe Mandalorianâ had a good run on television, this isnât a worthy successor. It looks like something from the Ray Harryhausen days of special effects â before âStar Warsâ changed the game â and features moments that could easily be cut.
The Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu in "The Mandalorian and Grogu."
Why Favreau doesnât give much insight into Mandoâs past or his connections is one of the filmâs big failings. Shouldnât tentpole releases give crucial information? If so, this could have ditched a fight or two for a bit of revelation.
Removing the mask occasionally might have been a good start.

