Review: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Those worried whether The Rise of Skywalker, the final entry in the "Skywalker Saga", sticks the landing should be assured that it does, barely. Director J.J. Abrams, returning to the franchise after helping to bring it back after a ten year break with The Force Awakens, inserts enough payoffs, along with blockbuster action in between, to feel like the whole effort to bring back the franchise with this Sequel Trilogy was worth it. That's not to say it's without its problems, though. And it's impossible to talk about what The Rise of Skywalker does right and wrong without comparing it to The Last Jedi. I've written about it before; I think The Last Jedi made smart choices when it comes to character and story, delivering interesting ideas while setting Episode IX up perfectly. The real problem with Rise is just how uninterested Abrams and the screenwriters are with a lot of what The Last Jedi had to say. Instead they play it safe, solidified with the return of a villain who was thought long dead (and should have stayed long dead).
If you've seen any of the previews or even the posters for the movie, you know Emperor Palpatine returns, last seen being thrown into an abyss inside the Death Star right before it blows up in Return of the Jedi. How exactly does he come back? Honestly, the answer given is flimsy at best. He's just back, okay! The thrust of the story centers around Palpatine, as a distant planet gives out a signal with his voice. The Rebellion, led by General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), sets out to find the source, hoping to stop whatever plans the newly awakened Emperor has in store. Meanwhile, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) is on his own mission to find the Emperor, also looking to strike down the old leader of the Empire, but for purely selfish reasons, as his crusade to become the undisputed ruler of the First Order/universe drives him. This all makes for some thrilling action in the first hour, as our beloved new characters, Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), and Poe (Oscar Isaac), head to the desert planet (there are so many) of Pasaana on the trail of Palpatine's whereabouts. This crew together, accompanied by Chewbacca, C-3PO, and BB-8, lifts the film up—the chemistry between the three is a huge reason why The Force Awakens was so successful, and Abrams makes sure to capitalize on their interplay in this (supposed) final episode. Also, there's thought given to Finn and Poe's respective histories, each getting moments that give them a new dimension and fleshing out their backstory.
The return of Lando (Billy Dee Williams) doesn't really add anything to the overall story, which is indicative of what Abrams is going for in Rise. It's cool that he's there, okay! Out of the legacy characters who do return, Leia's is the one with the most emotional resonance. Carrie Fisher passed away long before shooting for Rise began, but Abrams, instead of creating a CGI double of Fisher, uses unreleased footage from The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. It pays off, and enough care is given to the legacy of both Leia and Fisher, while also tying into the central story of Rey and Kylo in a way that doesn't feel entirely forced or unnecessary.
Rise is a fun space adventure, which is what Star Wars should be, but it does completely lose the narrative thread once Rey's story reveals itself. Those left (unnecessarily) wanting answers about Rey's background after The Last Jedi will get them. The problem isn't with the answers themselves, but how they're handled. The pace is lightning fast and there's little-to-no breathing room when it comes to the exposition tossed at Rey, and the audience for that matter. Looking back at The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, each character felt the weight of every stunning revelation. Rise is more concerned with movement rather than reflection—gone are the more somber, introspective beats in The Last Jedi. Instead, Abrams goes for what has worked before in the Original Trilogy, to a fault. Kylo's arc is impacted the most; as much as the film makes you feel for his journey, there's just not enough time given to make the payoff emotionally satisfying. Rey's story gets the most care, and thanks to the over forty-year-old legacy and iconography, her final moments in Rise make for a beautiful conclusion to this saga. The experience may be much more shallow than the best of the Star Wars films but it remains Star Wars—albeit a risk-free, low-stakes version of Star Wars that still entertains.
