"The Mandalorian and Grogu": An Intergalactic Dud
After nearly seven years, "Star Wars" returns to theaters not with a bang, but barely a whimper. By: Josh McCormack It’s been nearly seven years since the last “Star Wars” film hit theaters, and in that time, Lucasfilm and Disney have announced, canceled or simply abandoned several possible spinoff films that might have followed 2019’s “The Rise of Skywalker.” Finally, they’ve settled on a safe bet: “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” a film adaptation of “The Mandalorian,” the flagship series for Disney+ and one of the more popular “Star Wars” properties to emerge in recent years. With three seasons of television preceding it, many fans — myself included — were curious what about this film’s plot necessitated a theatrical release rather than simply another episode in the ongoing series. The answer: not much. While it might not be the worst “Star Wars” movie — although it’s pretty darn close — “The Mandalorian and Grogu” is the least essential film in the saga to date, complete with...
