Overloaded Sci-Fi Finale

Rating: 7/10 (25 December 2019)

GRADE: B-
THIS FILM IS RECOMMENDED.
IN BRIEF: Technically strong and still entertaining, but an inconsistent storytelling and too many secondary characters overload J.J. Abram's sci-fi epic conclusion.
JIM'S REVIEW: All good things must come to an end. And such is the case of the last chapter in the Star Wars saga. Let me begin by saying that this reviewer is not a die-hard fan. I enjoyed the series until the midway point, or should I say more exactly, I lost interest with the beginning chapters and some of their solo ventures. Yes, the CGI greatly improved, but the stories in this franchise fell to the wayside, as did the charm and originality. And, I do need a strong narrative to be enthralled.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is this ninth (and final?) chapter and it is again put in the more-than-capable hands of director / writer J.J. Abrams. We quickly pick up where we left off: It's Good vs. Evil. Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron are now our trio of Resistance crusader substitutes. (Our original heroes have inhabited an otherworldly state: Luke and Hans have left our mortal coils, and only Leia (Carrie Fisher, in a posthumous performance) remains to offer advice and wisdom in fighting the Stormtroopers and the Galactic Empire. Chewbacca is still around here for companionship as are our favorite droids, R2D2 and C-3PO.) Darth Vader has since perished, but Kylo Rey has taken over his lightsaber. Along with Emperor Palpatine, the battles continue as all are in search of a Sith wayfinder device. (It's the MacGuffin.)
The script by Chris Terrio and the director has some continuity issues in the film's editing and storytelling as it jumps from one peril to another, leaving some action and characters unexplained. More character development is needed to build tension and convincing interplay. In this episode, there are no clever one-liners with much of the dialog being merely exposition. The writers seem to take the story all too seriously. Their sense of humor is lost in space and in short supply with this final chapter.
As both writer and director, Mr. Abrams tries to wrap up all the minutiae and sub-plots to meet fan's expectations and that in itself is a Herculean task. (It's a cast of thousands and, at times, I felt that I needed a map, unlike most of the Star War fanbase. For me, the plot was too complicated for its own good. After all, it's the video game mindset that makes this series so popular. Give the people more battle sequences and less talk and exposition.) Many characters return as various actors reprise their supporting roles, which is an especially fine touch to its loyal followers.
The cast itself does a serviceable job whenever they are given time to converse, but to Mr. Abrams, action is the only key to the film's success. Daisy Ripley as the Jedi, Rey, and Adam Driver as her foe, Kylo Ren, have big screen personas which helps moviegoers to connect to their characters, although many of the other supporting performers have little to do than look stoic, get their reaction shots, and heroically fly off to battle. Except for Ms. Ripley's and Mr. Driver's characters, the rest of the ensemble are either walk-on cameos or underdeveloped figures, even though there are some nice plot twists and unexpected visits from a galaxy of former players that should suffice even the film's harshest critics.
Still, the visual effects are the main reason for viewing this blockbuster and they are very well done, except for a cheesy segment involving Rey and one of her spiritual gurus. Surprisingly, the highlight is not the film's climactic ending, which is more busy than exciting, but a seamless blending of CGI involving a dueling saber fight set against a raging sea. Production design by Rick Carter and Kevin Jenkins is impressive throughout the movie.
Yet, while there is much technical artistry and craft on display, there is also a hovering sameness, be it with the movie's retreads of stock characters, formulaic intergalactic spacecrafts, and non-stop shoot-em-ups. In all honesty, a "been there, seen it all before" feeling has plagued this series in the last few chapters before this. This Force may have been with me once too often.
Star Wars : The Rise of Skywalker remains a fitting enough finale. The film is always entertaining, although the series may have worn out its welcome. As an absent Yoda might say, " Wise on top to leave."
NOTE: So, we bid adieu to our good friends, leia, Luke, Hans, and Rey. The end was bittersweet but worth the wait. But in sci-fi, nothing dies. Things just morph and reshape. Studios look to a new force for the almighty dollar. A new generation awaits.