'The Mandalorian and Grogu' Has 89% on RT, but Is It Really Worth Watching? Yes, but There's Catch

The Mandalorian and Grogu was released at an odd time for Star Wars. Following the controversial sequel trilogy and series, as well as the long reign of Kathleen Kennedy – whom fans blamed for everything – the galaxy far, far away no longer evokes the same enthusiasm.

The Mandalorian and Grogu couldn't change that. By its very design, it is the universe's smallest, most insignificant film and truly doesn't measure up to being one of the year's major cinematic events.

What Is 'The Mandalorian and Grogu' About?

The Mandalorian, a space bounty hunter, now works for the New Republic, capturing fugitive Imperial minions. His latest assignment is to capture Commander Coin, but to succeed, he must form an alliance with the sinister Hutt clan.

The movie opens with a battle and chase involving a ton of armored vehicles and continues with a brawl with a crowd of enemies and a battle with monsters, so it doesn't feel cheap or TV-ready.

The Star Wars universe is truly alien here, filled with a vast array of fantastical creatures eager to confront the Mandalorian.

'The Mandalorian and Grogu' Looks More Like a Video Game Than a Movie

The Mandalorian and Grogu would make a much better game. Most of the movie is structured like a series of missions – Mandalorian takes a contract, receives a briefing, flies to a location, engages in combat, and receives a new marker on the map.

This feels more like gameplay than a film plot, and the screen even switches to first-person when Mandalorian aims a sniper rifle.

For a film, it lacks cinematic touches. There's a lack of real actors and emotional depth – Mandalorian is cool but faceless and emotionless, Grogu is sweet but barely understands what's going on.

The plot unfolds in such a way that the central conflict is resolved halfway through. It feels like the credits are about to roll, but only half the time has passed. The Mandalorian and Grogu doesn't feel like an episode of the series in terms of budget, however, in terms of structure, it's two distinctly different episodes.

'The Mandalorian and Grogu' Is an Unnecessary Yet Charming Addition to the 'Star Wars' Universe

The Mandalorian and Grogu will be remembered as a 130-minute filler episode in Star Wars lore, not essential to the plot of its own series.

But is it worth watching? Yes, it's a lively, well-directed action movie with outlandish monsters, a cool main character, and his charming sidekick.

The Mandalorian is a good TV series, and even its two episodes, which were filmed on a decent budget, are excellent. Just don't expect a triumphant return to a galaxy far, far away.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The Mandalorian and Grogu'?

• The Mandalorian and Grogu has 62% from critics and 89% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.1/10.

• On Letterboxd, The Mandalorian and Grogu scored 3.2/5.0.

Where to Watch 'The Mandalorian and Grogu'?

The Mandalorian and Grogu is currently playing in theaters.