Franchise Killer

Rating: 2/10 (27 December 2017)

Took the far-from-perfect but solid start that TFA made, and completely ruined everything. Luke tossing his father's light-sabre over his shoulder like he couldn't care less about its history or significance, sums up Johnson's direction for the whole film.
This film tries way too hard to be funny, and fails spectacularly every time. Add a slew of new and completely forgettable characters that you are not emotionally invested with on any level. The characters you are emotionally invested in have all had personality swaps. Luke is no longer the conscientious and serene Jedi, but the village drunk who's scared of his own shadow. Ray has gone from being a level-headed and strong willed women to a Mary Sue who flaps around finding everything amazing ("ZOMG! I like these guns!"), and often slipping into a cockney accent. Finn has gone from the heroic turncoat, to the lame comedy relief. His friendship with Poe has been turned into a nauseating bromance. Poe has gone from heroic champion of the Rebel fighters, to guy who just constantly gets everything wrong. Chewie, C3PO and R2D2 have all been made into characteurs of themselves. Oh, and Leia has become Mary Poppins! Phasma and Hux have been completely side-lined to the point of obscurity.
Zero Arcs for any of the characters, no one progressing one iota in terms of development. Snoke turned out to be Smeagol and Voldermort's unrealistically animated lovechild, and far stupider than them both. But it doesn't matter because he was entirely inconsequential, as was almost everything else in this movie. Casino scene was just a soapbox for Johnson, because we're not allowed to enjoy a film without escaping utter BS of the real world.
Starships capable of hyperspace struggle to catch up to a Rebel ship that's nearly out of fuel, and very slowly getting away. Making for the most boring chase scene in the galaxy. But it's OK, because the Rebel leaders have an even more boring and stupid plan to get away!
Oh, I could go on and on, but it would take weeks to point out what a waste of time this film is. I was never a big Star Wars fan, but it has had its moments - this was definitely not one of them. I agree, the positive reviews from the "critics" are clearly paid for. Either than or journalism is in a considerably worse state than we thought.