Solo: A Star Wars Story

Tropic Sprockets by Ian Brockway

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For those of us curious about the young swashbuckler in space, Han Solo, here is “Solo: A Star Wars Story” from Ron Howard. This episode is a backstory about our favorite pirate and the early days with his friend, a Wookiee-soldier nicknamed Chewie. While the film is no potent epic, it is has a breezy charm due to the accuracy of Alden Ehrenreich in capturing some of Harrison Ford’s slyness, along with his vocal delivery.

Young Han (Ehrenreich) has dreams of something more. He wants to be a pilot and see the galaxy with his sweetheart Qi’ra (Emilia Clarke). He steals some hyperfuel in the hopes that he can sell it and see the outer reaches with his love.

The Empire finds out about Han’s theft and the couple become separated. Our hero vows to return to his valentine.

Now alone, (hence the name Solo) our hero gets taken captive and put in solitary with Chewie (Joonas Suotomo). This is not really a problem since Han somehow speaks Wookiee in a scene that comes dangerously close to Disney kitsch, but no matter.

Han gets mixed up with a criminal, Tobias (Woody Harrelson) attempting to steal more fuel, and he becomes further entangled with a snotty dictator Dryden Vos (Paul Bettany).

We meet a young Lando Calrissian well played by Donald Glover. His role has wit and charm but his actions do not really take us anywhere new. Lando is vain, flamboyant and used to getting his way, but one knows that from the previous iconic chapters.

The main stumble to the film is that the villain is not compelling. There is nothing all that surprising for Han to do. He fights stormtroopers. He fights for an underdog army and he fights Dryden Vos with little variation. Still, Han and Chewie are such beloved characters that we are carried along if only to see what will happen next and how this fits in to the Jedi universe.

Clarke is the real charge in this story and she has the subtle mystery to keep us guessing. Qi’ra is a curious hybrid of generic innocence and a Femme Fatale. Her last interview with a surprise guest, is arguably the best scene in the film.

Though this addition to the “Star Wars” series plays it too safe with a milquetoast Millenium Falcon, there is a warm nostalgia in seeing Chewie once more. Better still, Clarke’s Qi’ra possesses an enigmatic quality that engages and compels, in spite of all.

Write Ian at ianfree11@yahoo.com