Solo: A Star Wars Story

It can’t be easy to play a beloved character like Harrison Ford’s Han Solo.  I saw my first Star Wars movie in 1977, so  I have been in love with this character for over forty years and was very ambivilant about seeing somone else in the role.  However, since this is a prequel, and Alden Ehrenreich is playing a young Han, I decided to give it a try.  I was pleasantly surprised.   Ron Howard’s directing is competent and he doesn’t stray from the formula that has made the Star Wars movies so popular.  Alden does a decent job as the young Han, but I had more fun with the supporting players.  Woody Harrleson was great as Tobias Beckett, a smuggler always warning others not to trust anyone (does that include him?).  I also loved Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian,  who has a smaller but crucial role.  Interesting how he loses his prized Millenium Falcon in a card game…  But just as Han has his Chewie, Lando doesn’t pilot the Falcon on his own. What Star Wars movie would be complete without a sassy android?  This one is no exception.  Phoebe Waller-Bridge plays a combination C3PO – sidekick with an attitude, who incites other droids to throw off the shackles of human domination a la Westworld.  I also enjoyed all of the little origin tidbits like why Hans last name is Solo, how he meets Chewie, what the Kessel Run was all about and how the story gets to Mos Eisley on the backwater planet called Tatooine.  Emilia Clarke is also fine as Hans first love, who may have a dark secret or two.  Cue Paul Bettany as a delightfully evil Dryden Vos, gentlemanly but vicious head of a vicious criminal cartel. There is enough action to keep everyone happy although I did feel the movie was too long.  For a summer popcorn movie though – this isn’t a bad way to spend an afternoon!