From a casual Star Wars fan...

Rating: 7/10 (27 December 2019)

So rather than meticulously go through each film and how it got to this, I will say, I did enjoy this film. But in terms of story telling, it's lacking.
I was one of those that really liked The Last Jedi. What Rian Johnson did was different and I actually think it made for a really great watch. What frustrated me about Rise of Skywalker was that it was clear an hour in, it was trying to undo most of what had happened in TLJ. Scenes were cluttered together and would quickly move from one place to the next. The story itself didn't feel thought out, it felt like the quickest way to get the job done.
The story of Rey's past felt rushed. Admittedly, TLJ didn't delve too deep, but the reveal of who her parents were was a 'Oh, Ok' moment. And then, you'd move on.
Action wise, you get your fill of it. It looks beautiful. The actors in this film play their parts brilliantly.

If you're a die hard Star Wars fan, I think you'll be left disappointed. There are too many quick wins in this film for it to feel like someone has really taken their time with it. I enjoyed it, but I would have expected more for the end of such a saga.