Rise of Skywalker not as Bad a The Last Jedi, Not in the League of Empire Strikes Back

Rating: 6/10 (22 December 2019)

The Good: The Last Jedi was a chaotic mess and off Yoda-brand. Rise of Skywalker is not that nearly that bad.
The Bad: This movie is forgettable, because it did not have a discrete and memorable villain. Yes, there was good and bad, but not focused. I was not fully engaged, but I did not want to walk out either (like in ). It filled some time.
A great movie has the viewer loving and hating, agreeing and disagreeing, predicting, fearing and hoping. That is, engaged.
Compare. Remember Yoda, Luke and Darth Vader? Clear good guys, clear bad guys. Focused. Unforgettable characteristics: Yoda's philosophy, Darth Vader's ominous breathing. The movie characters resonated. They were and remain unforgettable, in fact, they are legend. Moreover, they taught us something. "I don't believe it," said Luke, "And, that is why you fail," retorted Yoda. Classic movies; more than movies, works of true art, with blended core philosophy. The corrupting "Dark Side," like Tolkien's One Ring, feels good, while it corrupts.
But, Disney's caught up in the present social message that is adopted by its new leadership. In The Lion King non-animated, Disney even removed the plot-critical Rafiki stick strike, "Yes, the past can hurt, but you can either run from it or learn from it" plot shift statement. (The animated scene is too plot-important to be an oversight. Noting the entire me-too is past-based, not ungrounded, just past-based.) Then Rise of Skywalker slides in a same-sex kiss at the end, which was no less gratuitous than an unnecessary nude scene. (Giving an intended audience a little something not required for a substantive purpose...)
Then there's the little issues. The comic relief did not work in two ways: first, not enough pressure built up to require it (see "engagement" above), then the comic statements themselves didn't work on their own merit. Compare Harrison Ford's banter with Princess Leia over kissing a rogue, or the Wookie insults. Moreover, Rise of Skywalker failed clearly to tie the loose ends regarding the characters and chaotic mess of The Last Jedi.
Another missed opportunity. The problem with Disney is the same issue that plagues successful musicians who can release a bad album only because they can do it. No one else can do it without critical mass momentum. Any new artist would fail. But, momentum has its advantages. Earned momentum certainly, but that does not excuse the work itself.
There can be value in seeing the production on the big screen, but, from a plot perspective, waiting for television is fine. Ultimately, this movie is forgettable.