Snoring Since ‘Jedi,’ The Force Finally Awakens Again

Talented actors, an inspired director, and a proven formula combine to make Star Wars: The Force Awakens a worthy entry in the Star Wars universe.  Here is my review of the long-awaited sequel to Return of the Jedi, guaranteed spoiler-free.

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The first Star Wars trilogy, especially A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, ushered in the age of the sci-fi blockbuster and has become a beloved cultural touchstone. The second trilogy, while a money-making juggernaut, was widely panned for weak acting and cartoonish caricatures and has become a punchline for geeks and comedians alike.

Where on the spectrum between cherished and scorned does the newest entry in the Star Wars pantheon fall? From the opening scene, Star Wars: The Force Awakens signals its intent to recapture old glories, and to pull off a nifty hat trick: satisfy the hardcore faithful, appeal to people nostalgic for the originals, and create new lifelong fans. The 501st Legion will likely be swamped with new applications.

Director J.J. Abrams promised a return to the gritty realism and practical effects that were hallmarks of episodes IV, V and VI. That realism, along with engaging storytelling and compelling acting, are back in force (pardon the pun). So are beloved characters Han Solo and Leia Organa, stormtroopers and Star Destroyers, and John Williams’ timeless score.  

Abrams took a chance with relatively unknown actors, and it paid off. Daisy Ridley (Rey) and John Boyega (Finn) were well-cast, playing their roles with none of the stiffness or hammy over-acting that plagued episodes I-III. Ridley brought an intensity to her role but never overdid it. Boyega was funny, sincere, and natural as Finn. Returning veterans Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher played their well-worn roles smoothly; Ford can still nail the snarky, wise-cracking smuggler Han Solo. Supporting characters are well done, if somewhat underdeveloped.

Another welcome return is the witty banter between characters. It feels natural and honest, the kind of back-and-forth of old friends rather than scripted, forced humor. Chewy and Han are still the bickering old married couple, though Finn more than hold his own with them.  

The effects stood out by blending more or less seamlessly into the movie. CGI was used judiciously, with very little of the hyper-stylized art direction of the second trilogy. It also avoided the muddy colors and overstuffed frames that often mars CGI-heavy scenes.  

So is The Force Awakens a noteworthy successor or another punchline in the making? Overall, it hews far closer to A New Hope than to episodes I-III. It’s fast-paced and action-packed, with solid acting, excellent effects, and familiar set-pieces. And it largely avoids the soap-opera feel, racial caricatures, and over-used CGI that hampered the second trilogy. It should pull off the hat trick and appeal to diehards, nostalgic fans, and newcomers. Will it sit atop the Star Wars pantheon with A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back? Go see it, then find me at an upcoming convention and we’ll discuss that question at great length.

P.S.  After I see SW:TFA at least twice more this weekend, I plan to show some love to two of my favorite comedians, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, by seeing Sisters. Kudos to them for saying “yeah, Star Wars, whatever, let’s open the same weekend.”