Score: ***1/2 out of ***** (B)
Directed by Gareth Edwards
Starring Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Mads Mikkelsen, Ben Mendelsohn
Running time: 133 minutes
Rated PG-13
Long Story Short: Rogue One is the first stand-alone film in the Star Wars universe, whose main characters are all-new (though familiar ones make cameos). It's an interesting set up, led by another capable young woman in Felicity Jones playing a pre-Luke Skywalker rebel. There's plenty of action and then some, much of it impressive, but ultimately the film fails to let its new cast truly shine and make a connection, playing it too safe. You'll have a good time watching it, but temper those expectations.
On a cold and lonely outpost in a galaxy far, far away, a young woman named Jyn Erson (Jones) languishes in the captivity of the ubiquitous, evil Empire. A small group of renegades breaks her out; surprised that anyone should come for her, she discovers that her father, Galen (Mikkelsen), is helping the Empire to develop a superweapon. The renegades - working for the Rebel Alliance - hopes she will help them find him. Jyn is sent first to another Imperial-controlled world which harbors an old friend of the Erso family. The man takes Jyn to an Imperial pilot who has defected, bringing with him information on the nearly-finished Death Star, a message from Galen himself.
Jyn and her companions manage to escape with the news and return to the rebellion, but there is panic at the imminent danger to all. Therefore Jyn, herself recently thrust into the galactic war between the Empire and the rebellion, must choose her own path, caught between the stakes to the galaxy and her family's personal involvement in the danger.
Rogue One has a solid, impressively diverse, yet unspectacular cast. Leading the charge is Felicity Jones as Jyn Erso, the daughter of a crucial weapons engineer who herself becomes a rebel at a young age. Jones does a nice job, a charismatic presence with her share of strong moments, but is let down by the script. I'm all for a female hero/leader in the wake of The Force Awakens' Rey, but despite an interesting set up there isn't much development of her character. An engaging hero, Jones' Jyn is also merely a generic one by the end of the film. Jones is joined by an ensemble of fellow rogues; Diego Luna as the main rebel spy commander, who has hints of a grittier background and character but is even less well fleshed out. Most interesting are a blind warrior and a droid. Donnie Yen plays Imwe, who maintains strong faith in the Force despite the last (known) Jedi having disappeared years ago. Yen makes Imwe's faith fervent and fascinating when allowed to, and he is unexpectedly (and somewhat mischievously) funny. Alan Tudyk voices the droid of the film, a reprogrammed Imperial. He, too, is quite funny (more directly so) and gets the best lines. Ben Mendelsohn, a great actor, does well as the primary Imperial villain, although his part doesn't reach its menacing potential.
Rogue One is the first stand-alone Star Wars film; in other words it doesn't have a single Skywalker (let alone a Jedi), whose lineage has served as the backbone of the franchise. In ways this is freeing, allowing more storytelling flexibility with many familiar elements (the space ships, aliens, etc.); yet also challenges the filmmakers to develop a new set of compelling characters. Rogue One has the pieces and potential for a truly special development of the Star Wars universe, but unfortunately only succeeds in limited ways. The collection of characters is an intriguing one, as described earlier, a group that fits their predecessors' scrappy nature perfectly. Each has different, interesting reasons for fighting against the Empire, as well as realistic flaws. In fact, Rogue One gets into the politics of Star Wars, similar to the prequels (which I continue to defend) and much more than in the original trilogy - both on the rebel and the Imperial sides. The effects are very good, of course, and the final 30+ minutes put the "war" in Star Wars, both in the trenches and in space. I did enjoy a lot of this quite a bit, watching X-wings, Star Destroyers, AT-ATs (walking tanks) and more engaged in far more spectacular battle than ever before.
However... in the end, Rogue One in other ways lives down to its status as a stand-alone film, unable to ultimately distinguish itself within the Star Wars universe. The film begins with a flashback that appropriately takes its time in introducing Jyn's family and their role - and then the film kicks into hyperdrive, in a bad way. Jyn is all grown up, and being hustled around as quickly as the exposition that is shouted around and about her. Not only is it done too quickly, but it all gets straight to the point - the Death Star - leaving little to the imagination; and far worse, neglecting to pay any attention to the characters that are involved. Things start to settle down a bit, yet the script remains quite clunky in trying to fit all the pieces together, always focused on the Death Star to the detriment of everything else. Other problems crop up here and there: stormtroopers are mowed down at a ridiculous clip, the score is clearly trying to invoke John Williams but is a sad imitation (not the composer's fault - he was brought on late and had literally only a few weeks to start and finish it).
***
Rogue One is still a solid film; if you're looking for an entertaining action movie, you're not going to do better right now (unless Doctor Strange is still out). But Rogue One also isn't just any movie: it's a Star Wars movie. The results remind me a lot of Suicide Squad - both exist in well-established franchises/worlds, but focus on a new set of grittier, much less well-known characters. Both films introduce a set of intriguing new characters, potentially worthy of their own mini-franchise. But both films also largely squander this potential by trying to play it safe with formula and focusing on the plot and action at the expense of nurturing their characters. Yes, it's cool to know how the events of Episode 4 - A New Hope were made possible (i.e. blowing up the Death Star) - but it would have been even cooler to have launched a parallel set of rebels to continue the fight behind the scenes. Maybe repeat viewings will bring me around to it, but for now I am well entertained but ultimately disappointed. Moderately recommended, but not a success like The Force Awakens was.
By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50076808
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