Not Great, Not Awful

Rating: 6/10 (1 January 2020)

Forty two years ago, we waited in line for over three hours to see the original Star Wars. It was fresh, exciting and fun. Tonight, we finished the journey - not with a bang, nor a whimper.
Rise of Skywalker is a confused mess, but the same could be said about many of the Star Wars movies. Improbable characters drawn together to accomplish amazing things against impossible odds. In this third trilogy, Rey and Kylo Ren assume the central antagonist roles that Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader did in the first three films. We could have used more of them. Everyone else is about advancing their story.
It's been reported that Carrie Fisher's death left a big hole in the original plan for the film. Her limited presence using spare footage is a sad reminder of what could have been. A few other old friends are along for the ride, but none of them are essential. As sidekicks, Fin and Poe never rise to the level of caring about them; they're not that likable (as characters and/or actors), nor that important to the story.
Was it fun to watch - Yes.
Did it wrap up the saga - probably as well as could be expected.
Was it everything it might have been - who knows?
One more note. Some have complained that Rey's prominence is some kind of feminist statement. If so, so what? I always thought that one of the problems in the first three movies, especially Return of the Jedi, was not giving a bigger role to Leia - she was Vader's daughter with Jedi blood, but Luke got to play hero and she wore a tacky bikini. It's about time female heroines got their due and respect.