Really fun, if you don't take it too seriously

Rating: 8/10 (21 December 2019)

I didn't go into TROS with bated breath or any high expectations. I loved The Force Awakens, I (kinda) liked The Last Jedi and, overall, I really liked this one.
This movie, in some ways, seems like the end result of plot lines the filmmakers didn't quite know how they were going to finish when they started this trilogy. The Rey-Palpatine connection, and really all of the Palpatine stuff, felt too convenient and at times unnecessary, but I was able to overlook it. And yeah, the plot was a bit messy and overstuffed, but the general gist of the story was easy enough to follow, and the principle actors really hold their own and deliver enjoyable performances (especially Ridley and Driver).
This isn't high-brow cinema; it's Star Wars. It's inherently campy and steeped in self-referential tradition, so if you're going into this movie expecting the pinnacle of storytelling and filmmaking, you'll be disappointed. But if you're there to enjoy a fun, spirited action film that is the essence of Star Wars, you'll have a good time.