‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ review - runs very low on humour

Han Solo is a big deal in popular culture. Harrison Ford finely balanced the character’s charm and cockiness in his portrayal, endearing him to millions.

And now 41 years since Ford debuted Solo’s lure on the big screen, the baton has been handed down to 28-year-old Alden Ehrenreich.

Ron Howard has several wins in his directorial kitty (including the simply superb Arrested Development). But his genius could hardly salvage screenwriters Jonathan and Lawrence Kasdan’s loose script. In Lucasfilm’s second ‘anthology’ standalone Star Wars feature, a young Solo (Ehrenreich) is separated from his lady love Qi’ra (Emilia Clarke) on planet Corellia. In a bid to reunite with her, Solo joins and then deserts the Imperial Army, eventually aligning with a gang of outlaws. A long-winded set of events later, Solo is helping his new crew steal hyperfuel for the vicious crimelord Dryden Vos (Paul Bettany).

Try as it might, the film’s straight-arrow narrative cannot be redeemed by the slickest of action sequences. This is only exacerbated when experiencing the film’s bleak first half that’s shrouded in inexplicably dim cinematography. Solo would fare much better had it focused on something other than simply joining unnecessary dots. In the end, the film seems like it’s a bespoke set of events created to match Ford’s bragging in previous instalments, instead of the reverse where Solo’s adventures would have made him the character he has been.

Ehrenreich’s portrayal is sincere enough but far from effortless. Sure he tries to be just as arrogant — and in case we miss it, other characters make sure they label him so — and he’s furiously blasting Cheshire grin after another at the camera. Unfortunately, he’s overshadowed by the supporting characters in spite of all his work. In comparison, Donald Glover’s depiction of the cape-loving swindler Lando Calrissian is far more efficacious.

Unlike the usual Star Wars films, this 2018 Solo runs very low on humour. The protagonist’s quintessentially sassy demeanour takes a complete backseat. Sadly even Chewbacca’s usual quips (relayed in the form of Wookie grunts) are conspicuously missing. It leaves the field completely open for Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s droid L3 — a companion to Calrissian — who’s on a crusade for equal rights between species. Chameleon extraordinaire Woody Harrelson fits right in as the morally bereft smuggler with a heart, Tobias Beckett.

Solo: A Star Wars Story is a mildly entertaining backstory to one of the most seminal characters in popular culture. We only wish questions that were never asked weren’t answered in such excruciating detail.