Decent Space Opera; Gives the People What They Want

Rating: 7/10 (14 March 2016)

Yes, I am cynical: I realize that the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy is a naked cash grab by Disney; now that Disney owns Lucasfilm and the Star Wars franchise, they naturally want to squeeze every last dime from it they can. I know this clashes with the artistic vision of Star Wars' creator George Lucas, who saw the prequels as a natural end to his franchise. That said, does that mean that the first of the sequel films is garbage? Absolutely not! In spite of being a cash-grab-of-a-film that did not need to be made, "The Force Awakens" is at the very least a fun and entertaining movie. It provides just the right balance of nostalgia and newness that young and old fans can enjoy.
I don't think it's a bad thing necessarily that "The Force Awakens" pretty much recycles the plot of the original Star Wars movie, to the point that it seems to lack any originality. The fans feel comfortable with going down memory lane, so long as the retread is well-written and engaging. J.J. Abrams makes this movie entertaining by including likable new protagonists like Finn, Poe Dameron, Maz Kanata and Rey. Maz is honestly my favorite character in the film: she fulfills the "wise man Yoda" archetype in a subdued yet believable way. I know most will think of Rey as nothing more than a distaff Luke Skywalker, but I think the character is portrayed in a way that makes her seem more dynamic and strong-willed than Luke ever was.
My big problem with Rey isn't how she's written--again, she has a bolder and more engaging personality than Luke--but in the fact that she *doesn't* save the day. That was a big letdown for me. Also: I don't know a heck of a lot about who Rey is; some backstory beyond cryptic flashbacks would be nice. I know that her character will likely be developed throughout the trilogy; but I don't like that epic films feel the need to do this. A character should be fleshed out in the "first" movie, and needs to complete his/her character arc in the first movie, which Rey definitely doesn't do. It feels like the screenwriters are cheating me out of a potential compelling and interesting character. This is a big negative on the film's part.
For nostalgia's sake, the film did right in bringing back the most compelling and engaging of the original film's protagonists: Han Solo and his loyal companion Chewbacca. Harrison Ford is still able, after nearly forty years, of bringing life back to the roguish mercenary- turned-hero. The writers made sure to include Han's dry wit and sarcasm, not to mention show his close bond with Chewie. I love that we see a lot of Chewie in this movie, and see more of his signature crossbow ray gun. Han Solo and Chewbacca make a great pair, like Butch and Sundance, and I am glad the film focused more on him than weaker characters like Luke and Leia.
For a cash grab like this, it's not a bad thing that J.J. Abrams and Disney recycled the plot of the original movie: they added enough newness to make it seem like a work of its own. They knew the audience would not like the innovations to the Star Wars universe that were created in the prequels, and they ultimately did the right thing by cutting out any reference to the things in the prequels that disgusted the audience. My problem with "The Force Awakens" is that it does not do enough to flesh out its characters, like Rey, instead opting to stretch their storyline throughout the trilogy. A movie--even one in a trilogy--needs to stand on its own in order to be compelling, and unfortunately "The Force Awakens" does not do enough to develop the characters in the story. Too many blank spaces are left, and it is ultimately unsatisfying.
Old and new fans alike will find much to enjoy in "The Force Awakens." Don't expect a timeless classic; it's better than the prequels (and, in some ways, equals the originals), but don't expect a great work of art either. Watch it to see Han and Chewie kick bad guy booty. You''ll be satisfied then.