Staying Within the Lines

Rating: 7/10 (23 December 2017)

GRADE: B-
THIS FILM IS RECOMMENDED.
IN BRIEF: A good-looking but convention re-mash from most of the series.
SYNOPSIS: The Resistance fighters fight the First Order...once again and again.
JIM'S REVIEW: There is really nothing any critic could say, let alone myself, to stop the phenomenon known as Star Wars. The force has been (and will be) with this film franchise for decades to come, making this latest chapter in the most profitable series in movie history all the more memorable. And yes, Star Wars:The Last Jedi is a worthy addition to this space age saga, just not a very creative or moving one.
Rian Johnson (Looper) is a fine choice to serve as the film's director. He has enough visual panache to wow his targeted audience, although he doesn't stray to far from the tried-and-formula that sustains this franchise. (The use of blood red throughout the film gives it a stately look.) He delivers an action-packed thrill ride at warp speed, but loses the excitement and its characters in a middling story.
The plot remains simplistic, a good vs. bad scenario, with enough sub-plots to perk up the interest if one story strand starts to meander, which it does. Our heroine and female power player, Rey (Daisy Ridley), is now under the tutelage of Luke Skywalker (a winning Mark Hamill) to learn the necessary skills to combat the most evil Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). While she is gaining that knowledge base, other Resistance fighters are in combat mode. This includes, from our last outing, Hans Solo substitute, fighter pilot Poe (Oscar Isaac) and rogue soldier Finn (John Botega). And of course, that former princess turned general, Leia (the late Carrie Fisher) is there, bringing the needed nostalgia and pathos to her final role.
New additions to the cast include Laura Dern, Kelly Marie Tran, and Benicio Del Toro. A still less visible Gwendoline Christie, who was wasted as a mere footnote in the last chapter, has a memorable exchange toward this film's climax, although she is well hidden in her mask and armor..so much for emoting and acting lessons. Domhall Gleeson as General Hux takes on that challenge effectively. We even have cute pogs taking the place of Ewoks for the younger crowd. And the great Andy Serkis is center stage as the powerful Snoke, a great CGI villain.
Everyone is assembled to combat their personal conflicts and deal with their angst, ready to fight the fight most effectively...except it takes most of the film for these characters to finally come together. There is definitely a pay-off in the third act, but getting there is a challenge of sorts. Nothing seems to have been overlooked, well, except a real emotional drama. It's all surface treatment, visually stunning and artfully crafted...a very good veneer to behold. But when one looks deeper, less is less.
The basic problem is a screenplay (written by the director) that is essentially uninspired. The narrative is disjointed and not very creative, borrowing too closely from set pieces and similar characters from other chapters in this series for contemporary audiences (Mos Eisley Cantina vs. a casino on Canto Bight, both with jam-packed with delightful alien creatures / Rey is Luke / Poe resurrected to become the new Han Solo, etc.) Not very original but it's safe, cozy, and familiar to its fan base. However, these established and endearing characters deserve better dialog and are in need of some real tension and drama, Luke, Leia, Daisy, Finn should not be mere props for battle. Also, the editing doesn't allow flow of its chunky plot and undercuts the characters and their individual missions numerous times. Humor is apparently in short supply as the movie takes itself far too seriously.
Still, Star Wars: The Last Jedi still entertains. There is plenty of fine CGI, nicely staged aerial battle sequences, and some nifty hand-to-hand lightsaber duels thrown in for good measure. Excitement and tension builds to many ultimate showdowns so that action fans won't be disappointed.
Let us hope that the filmmakers for the next installment go a bit rogue and resist the real evil: conventional storytelling. Staying safely within the lines does not make a great movie. With such a force of talented artisans behind them that can dazzle us with enough visual showmanship. Star Wars: The Last Jedi remains a feast for the eyes, but does little to move the soul.