‘Mandalorian and Grogu’ review - divided fandoms and cute puppets

The online reaction to any new “Star Wars” project typically digresses into the same disgusting bog that drowned political discourse in this country long ago (in a galaxy far, far away).

Cutesy teddy bears, Greedo shooting first, prequel dialogue, a “Last Jedi” civil war and the Disney+ television onslaught all spawn visceral, often-hateful debate. Even relatively minor controversies can make blood boil. Like, why can R2-D2 suddenly fly in “Attack of the Clones?”

An objective review of “The Mandalorian and Grogu” seems almost pointless at this point. The movie will work for a specific set of “Star Wars” fans, and it will work less for other sets. The product of director Jon Favreau and co-writer/producer Dave Filoni, “The Mandalorian and Grogu” is a whiz-bang Saturday morning serial that purposefully lacks the story depth and character growth of other “Star Wars” projects. It is a vehicle for action sequences, weird, goopy creatures and adorable puppets.

The film also requires little to no experience with the three seasons of the Disney+ “Mandalorian” series. The show certainly deepens the connection audiences experience with the titular characters, though the concept essentially follows a “lone wolf and cub” structure pairing a tough warrior with an innocent child, in this case a green one who enjoys frequent cookie breaks.

That lack of depth surely poses a problem for certain Mando fans, particularly the ones who enjoyed the mythology-building of its second and third season. The film would fit nicely into season one, operating as a supersized, lavishly budgeted stand-alone adventure with enough spectacle to justify its jump to the big screen.

So, from a purely subjective perspective, I can say honestly I enjoyed “The Mandalorian and Grogu” for its commitment to being a candy-coated blockbuster. The technical execution here feels theatrical, from its relatively seamless blending of practical effects and digital creations to its explosive sound design and propulsive score by Ludwig Goransson, who integrates the show’s standout theme with new and engaging flourishes.

The movie also caters to those of us still delighted by adorable puppets. Grogu appears to be a puppet/practical effect for the entire runtime, and he’s joined by those adorable “Babu Frik” puppets who ended up being the sole saving grace of “The Rise of Skywalker.” The cute characters work wonders on kids too, easing the theatrical experience even while some of the other creatures and violence may test the gumption of younger audiences.

I personally remain a pro-Grogu, pro-Ewok, pro-Porg, pro-Babu Frik “Star Wars” fan. I’m also a pro “Last Jedi” guy in general, but I’ve never fought on the internet with anyone about it. “Star Wars” and “Empire Strikes Back” remain the gold standard of the franchise. I haven’t seen most of the television shows outside of “The Mandalorian.” The presence of Samuel L. Jackson alone makes me not hate the prequels.

For anyone still on the fence about seeing “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” I suppose that last paragraph serves as the best gauge to temper your expectations.

    This image released by Disney shows Rotta the Hutt, voiced by Jeremy Allen White, in a scene from Lucasfilm's "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu."

    This image released by Disney shows the Mandalorian, portrayed by Pedro Pascal, right, and Grogu in a scene from Lucasfilm's "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu."