REVIEW — “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu”

A squandered opportunity, Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is a lackluster standalone sidequest for the dynamic duo.

It’s been three years since the season three finale of The Mandalorian, the stellar live-action Disney+ series created by director Jon Favreau (Iron Man) and writer/ George Lucas protégé, Dave Filoni. Set five years after Return of the Jedi, the Lucasfilm space western follows lone Mandalorian bounty hunter, Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) as he protects his young foundling, Grogu (aka “Baby Yoda”) from remnants of the Empire.

The first three seasons explore the development of their father-son bond, Mando’s journey to redeem himself, and the mythology of the Mandalorian culture complete with epic world building, iconic characters, and interesting lore. Unfortunately, this movie continuation abandons all that to follow the pair on an uninteresting side quest.

The film picks up shortly after the events of season three as bounty hunters Mando and Grogu comb the galaxy in search of fugitive Imperial war criminals. After an explosive opening, Mando arrives at base to collect his bounty and get his next mission from Ward (an underutilized Sigourney Weaver). As their New Republic liason, she tasks them with the rescue of an imprisoned Hutt named Rotta (voiced by Jeremy Allen White), son of Return of the Jedi villain, Jabba the Hutt.

What follows are a series of misadventures and action setpieces, from a battle in a gladiator ring to an underwater snake pit at Hutt’s palace. What’s missing is the emotional drama and appealing characters that drew fans to the series in the first place. Give me Timothy Olyphant’s Cobb Vanth, Katee Sackhoff’s Bo-Katan Kryze or Amy Sedaris’ Peli Motto. Hell, I’d even take Gina Carano’s Cara Dune. But, no. We just get a wirey Martin Scorcese as an Ardennian fry cook named Hugo.

As Mando, Pedro Pascal delivers the goods per usual, however his is mostly just a vocal performance. It’s his stunt doubles who do the real heavy lifting. In fact, actors Brendon Wayne (John Wayne’s grandson) and Emmy winner Lateef Crowder get third and fourth billing, respectively, on the film as Mando’s live-action doubles.

White’s Rotta is kinder and more muscular than his late father, and while the actor does a good job of showing a Hutt’s softer side, the character’s deeper, digitally-modified voice does his performance a disservice. With such an unrecognizable pitch, Rotta really could have been voiced by anyone.

While visually gorgeous and scaled up for IMAX screens, the film is little more than an extended series of mediocre episodes with a story that is unworthy of the big screen. However, kids will love this film as it’s loaded with kiddie faire: cute Grogu coos and baby talk alongside his band of miniature, mumbling misfit mechanics.

If the goal was to make a movie that is accessible to anyone who has not seen the Disney+ series, then the film succeeds. Because the barrier to entry is very low for non-fans of the show. However, when you make something for everyone, you ultimately make it for no one. The fanbase that has eagerly awaited this film and its supposed cinematic reveals is going to leave unsatisfied when their big screen expectations go unmet.

There are simply no surprises in this film. No big reveals, no cameos to spoil, no after credit scene. You keep waiting for something big to happen, but it never does. I’m rarely let down by Jon Favreau, but this script was boring. To quote Sigourney’s character, “Messy. Very messy.” Honestly, they could’ve just released the season two finale of The Mandalorian on the big screen and called it a day. It had drama, tension, stakes, a ruthless villain, and Luke freakin Skywalker! Now that was cinema, Marty!

Unfortunately, I did a season three rewatch to prepare for this film. While it was a pleasurable experience and it got me pumped for epic Mando action, it was an unnecessary exercise. Because the series bears no weight on this film and vice versa. A mildly entertaining departure that is unlikely worth a revisit, this film should be treated for what it is, a standalone adventure that has no effect on The Mandalorian and Grogu’s overarching episodic journey.

My reaction: “Cool. Now let’s get cracking on season four.” 2.5/5

Rated PG-13 with a running time of 2 hours, 12 minutes, Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu opens in theaters and on IMAX May 22, 2026.