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'Solo: A Star Wars Story' (12A)

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***

Before he was the captain of the Millennium Falcon and a part of the Rebellion, Han Solo lived as part of the criminal underworld. Taking part in his first big heist, Han hopes to earn enough money to return to his homeland and rescue his long lost love, before jetting off into the stars...

The Star Wars universe has given birth to many a memorable character, from Darth Vader to Yoda, Princess Leia to the infamous Jar Jar Binks (yep, we couldn't miss him out!). Arguably the most iconic of the extensive list, however, is Han Solo. The role that launched Harrison Ford's career, this space King of Cool with a heart of gold is as enigmatic as he is unforgettable; as problematic as he is forgivable. Stepping into the boots of this pop-culture hero is relative-newcomer Alden Ehrenreich, previously seen in Beautiful Creatures and Hail, Caesar!. Exuding something of a young Leonardo DiCaprio, he brings both swagger and playfulness to the role, but, ultimately, he is miscast. Paired with the similarly poor choice of Emilia Clarke as his love interest, the film sets about building itself on unstable foundations, and it never quite recovers.

It's not just the leading cast that lets the film down, however, it is the story line itself. Whereas with Rogue One there was a sense of impending doom, we essentially know what the conclusion of Solo will be, which erases some of the excitement and anticipation of the final act. Similarly, the 'big twist' becomes so obvious about half way through that the eventual 'big reveal' feels almost laughable instead of shocking - a 'Luke, I am your father' it isn't! Despite director Ron Howard's best efforts to inject fun into the story line - the visually spectacular but emotionally empty train heist sequence, for example - I never felt the same thrill as I have done in the past watching other Star Wars films.

That's not to say there's nothing to enjoy here. I did chuckle a few times, and Donald Glover's casting as Lando is nothing short of genius - a smooth operator with a penchant for high-fashion capes, he instantly steals the film with his charismatic nuances. Lando's robotic sidekick, L3 (voiced by Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge) is also endearing, being an advocate for droid rights and a source of numerous laughs. The introduction of Chewie and the beginning of that unbreakable bond is done well too, but these smaller elements cannot overcome the fact that the majority of the film is essentially rather mediocre, which is a real shame.

I'll admit it now - it was never my plan to go and see Solo following the appearance of the rather mundane trailer. Although not nearly as bad as I had feared, this latest installment in the intergalactic franchise is undeniably disappointing. Occasionally revealing elements that work well, it unfortunately fails to excite and engage as you would hope. The lesson to learn? Walking in Harrison Ford's footsteps was never going to be easy.  


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